Synagoge Groningen

Did you know that Jews have lived in Groningen for more than four centuries? The exhibition introduces you to the history of the Jewish community in Groningen up to the present day. Old photos, objects, but also in films and audio make the diversity of Jewish culture visible. About entrepreneurs and teachers, about the poor and the superstars. You can also learn about the Jewish religion and the meaning of holidays. And all in Groningen's colourful shul!

Jacob Israël de Haan, a man with many faces and even more stories. The son of a Jewish cantor went on to become a journalist, poet, writer, teacher and lawyer! He was the author of Pijpelijntjes, the first Dutch autobiographical homosexual novel. Although De Haan lived to be only 42, he made a lasting impression. In 1919, he left for Palestine, where he was murdered on 30 June 1924 - exactly 100 years ago this year - for his sharp criticism of political Zionism. In this exhibition at Synagoge Groningen, you will get to know the man considered by some to be ‘a Dutch Lawrence of Arabia’. But was he?

In the audio tour, Bertien Minco takes you through moments in her family history in which the synagogue is central. Bertien was born in Groningen and grew up in the Jewish community in the 1960s. Many of her ancestors also lived and worked in the city and province of Groningen. Her parents Manuel and Stelly worked to restore and rededicate the synagogue in the 1970s. Through Bertien, you will learn about the Groningen synagogue and Jewish traditions in a very personal and accessible way! The audio tour can be followed with your own smartphone and is offered in Dutch, English and German. The tour takes by about half an hour.

This evening, the cheerful but sometimes melancholic music of the Groningen band Het Blauwe Uur will be heard in Synagoge Groningen. Between 19.00 and 01.00, the band will perform. Het Blauwe Uur consists of Tim Meeuws (vocals and baglama), Conny Essbach (accordion and vocals), Ron Glasbeek (double bass and vocals) and Bert Heikema (guitar and vocals). Their repertoire includes chansons, musette, rebètika, balkan and gypsy compositions; music conveniently characterized as 'Europeana'.