The Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum) is the renowned Jewish History museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Dedicated to Jewish history and culture this remarkable museum achieved widespread recognition in 1989 when it was awarded the Council of Europe Museum Prize. This prize is awarded annually and reserved for museums such as the Jewish Historical Museum which exhibit comprehensive and well displayed collections, in beautiful and interesting settings.
As the Jewish Historical Museum is found in the Plantage area of Amsterdam it more than satisfied the beautiful settings requirement of the Council of Europe Museum Prize. The Plantage is rich with remarkable architecture, steeped in history and is the base for a varied and interesting culture.
Subsequent to winning the award, the Jewish Historical Museum underwent a prolonged period of restoration and improvements, eventually completed in 2007. Originally opening in 1932, The Joods Historisch Museum remains unique in that it remains the only museum in all Amsterdam that is dedicated purely to Jewish history.
Interestingly the current collection of over 11,000 objects falls well short of its potential due to the plundering of the original museum by Nazi’s during World War II. Many collections were devastated by the Germans forcing the museum to close for a period of around 13 years. The museum re-opened and remained in-situ for 32 years before eventually moving to Jonas Daniël Meijerplein square.
Aside from the Joods Historisch Jewish Museum in Amsterdam Netherlands, there are other prized Jewish collections to be found at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The Holocaust Museum is a massive affair employing 400 fulltime staff and managing a budget of almost $80 million. Opened in 1993 the Holocaust Museum welcomes visitors from all over the world, who come in their millions to view the 13,000 artefacts, millions of pages of documents and many thousands of photographs.
New Yorkers need not be concerned about Washington housing one of the world’s greatest museums, as they can enjoy more than one fantastic museum. Firstly, the modern art displays of the Whitney Museum of American Art (which displays almost 20,000 pieces of art) is a tremendous gallery. Exhibiting works from young and old, present and past, the Whitney’s Annual and Biennial exhibitions are extremely popular with locals and tourists alike.
Secondly, East Manhattan is home to the cultural icon, the Guggenheim Museum, where Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections are permanently on show. Additionally there are Modern and Contemporary art collections on display throughout the year at the Guggenheim Museum.
Also, in Manhattan Upper West Side there is the huge American Museum of Natural History. Known worldwide for its 25 buildings and 46 exhibition halls, the Museum of Natural History is home to a remarkable 32 million items, of which a selection is on show throughout the year. In 2011 the American Museum of Natural History was ranked as the 4th most visited museum in America, and the 7th most visited world-wide.
Still in Manhattan, is the Frick Museum, a small but extremely highly regarded art museum. Many old master paintings can be found in the Frick Collection six galleries. Additionally classic furniture, enamel and oriental rugs can be found on display at the Frick Museum.
Manhattan is also home to the Museum of Modern Art – considered one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world today. Additionally the Museum of Modern Art houses over 300,000 books and magazines covering the work of over 70,000 artists.
Finally, The New Museum in New York City is unique in its focus on purely contemporary art from around the world. Art from well over 20 different countries has been displayed at The New Museum, sometimes displaying art ahead of widespread recognition.
So if the remarkable Jewish Historical Museum in the Netherlands is out of reach for those interested in Jewish History, there is an amazing number of highly regarded Museums in New York that would keep history buffs and art lovers busy for many months.
Jewish Historical Museum |