Portuguese Synagogue Amsterdam: visit, tickets and opening hours
The Portuguese Synagogue (Esnoga), at Mr. Visserplein 3, was built between 1671 and 1675 and was for a long time the largest synagogue in the world. It has kept its original interior, lit by candles rather than electric light, and is still an active place of worship. It opens Sunday to Thursday 11am-5pm and Friday 11am-4pm; it is closed on Saturday. The duo ticket with the Joods Museum costs €20 and the combined ticket for the four sites of the Jewish Cultural Quarter €30 (adult prices online, October 2026). It is an easy walk from Waterlooplein, a few minutes from the Rembrandt House. To place all the sites, read the page on the Jewish Cultural Quarter; the Joods Museum is just opposite.
Highlights
The 1675 building
The large rectangular hall, built on wooden piles, has a timber roof structure and is lit by many windows. An audio guide, included in the ticket, explains the points of interest.
The candlelit interior
Copper chandeliers and candelabras light the hall with hundreds of candles. This is what gives the visit its 17th-century atmosphere. Candlelight concerts are held once a month: check the programme on the website.
The holy ark
It houses the Torah scrolls and is the centrepiece of the hall.
The treasure chambers
Underground rooms display ceremonial objects in silver and fabric.
The Ets Haim–Livraria Montezinos library
Located in the complex, it is described as the oldest Jewish library still in operation in the world.
Hours and prices
Sunday to Thursday 11am-5pm, Friday 11am-4pm, closed on Saturday; hours may change during Jewish holidays. Duo ticket Joods Museum and Portuguese Synagogue: €20; combined ticket for the four sites of the Jewish Cultural Quarter: €30 (valid for a week). The price of a ticket for the synagogue alone was not shown on the pages we consulted: check it at the ticket desk. The Museumkaart is accepted. A skip-the-line tour of the Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Amsterdam is also offered on GetYourGuide, as is the combined ticket with the Jewish Museum; we earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Practical info
Tips
- The synagogue is a place of worship: dress modestly, and men must wear a kippah, lent at the entrance. The site is wheelchair accessible. Combine the visit with the National Holocaust Museum: the combined ticket stays valid for a week. Avoid Friday afternoon and Jewish holidays, when access may be limited (information from October 2026).
How to get there
Mr. Visserplein 3, 1011 RD Amsterdam. From Central Station (Amsterdam Centraal): metro 51, 53 or 54 to Waterlooplein, then a few minutes on foot; or tram 14 to the Waterlooplein stop.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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