Beth Haim of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel


The Beth Haim of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Netherlands.

History

The land was purchased in 1614 by the Jewish community of Amsterdam for use as a burial ground. It is situated in the village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, in the rural outskirts south of Amsterdam.
The Jewish population of Amsterdam in the early modern period consisted largely of Sephardic Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, many of whom had fled persecution in Spain and Portugal.

Facilities

Monuments

In addition to its age, the cemetery is notable for several features. Many of its tombstones bear inscriptions in Portuguese, Dutch, and Hebrew. Unusually for a Jewish cemetery, a significant number of the stones also display sculptural reliefs, including representations of human figures.

Visitation

The cemetery is open to visitors and is free of charge.

Notable burials

Famous people buried at the Beth Haim include:
Image:Menasseh T.JPG|thumb|left|Grave of Menasseh Ben Israel
Two paintings by Jacob van Ruisdael were inspired by Beth Haim. Although the paintings are usually called in English "The Jewish Cemetery at Ouderkerk", the artist felt free to add picturesque elements, and they therefore do not closely resemble the actual location.