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Welcome to
the Lekstraat Synagogue
The Lekstraat synagogue is located in the Rivierenbuurt, a neighborhood almost 30% Jewish before World War II. The neighborhood where Anne Frank lived on the Merwedeplein after fleeing Germany to escape the rising Nazi threats.
Standing in front of the Lekstraat synagogue you will most likely spot the Hebrew text on the facade which reads: 'And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and I will not forsake my people Israel.' (1 Kings 6:13).
The Lekstraat Synagogue, built in 1937, is the last synagogue constructed in Amsterdam before World War II. The architect, Abraham Elzas (1907-1995), who had previously worked with Le Corbusier in Paris, designed the synagogue in the New Objectivity style, featuring a streamlined structure with a bright interior.
During World War II, the fate of the Lekstraat Synagogue shifted from being a vibrant shul to a place where the mandatory yellow Stars of David were sold to Jews. From September 1943 onward, it was repurposed as a warehouse for confiscated furniture of deported Jews.
In the 1970s, the building was destined for demolition. However, it became home to the Resistance Museum with the former youth synagogue remaining in use as a place of worship. In 1999, the Resistance Museum relocated to the Plantage neighborhood. The main building of the Lekstraat Synagogue now houses an auction house.
*Special thanks to Mr. I. Salomons for the useful information you shared.
