Amsterdam-Centrum , North Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
E.J. van Detschool
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 5, 2026
1. E.J. van Detschool Marker
19 augustus 1941
De Burgemeester van Amsterdam
In dit schoolgebouw zat al vanaf 1932 de E.J. van Detschool, een nijverheidsschool voormeisjes. Vanaf september 1941 had de schooluitsluitend joodse leerlingen, dat waren er bijaanvang ruim 290, en 16 joodse leerkrachten. Na de grote razzia's in mei 1943 werd de schoolgesloten. Alle leerlingen en leerkrachten waren verdwenen. De meesten werden gedood in concentratiekampen in het Oosten.
We zullen ze nooit vergeten.
The German authorities have decreed that Jewish children must be gathered in schools designated for Jewish children, where Jewish teachers provide instruction.
19 August 1941
The Mayor of Amsterdam
From 1932 onwards, this school building housed the E.J. van Det School, a vocational school for girls. From September 1941, the school had exclusively Jewish studentsinitially numbering over 290and 16 Jewish teachers. The school was closed following the major roundups of May 1943. All the students and teachers had vanished; most were killed in concentration camps in the East.
We will never forget them.
Topics and series.
this page online
Location. 52° 21.975′ N, 4° 54.341′ E. Memorial is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland (North Holland). It is in Amsterdam-Centrum. It is on Hortusplantsoen, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: Hortusplantsoen 3, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1018 TZ, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: E.J. van Det School Memorial (here, next to this marker); J.C. Amman School Memorial (a few steps from this marker); de wereld bleef doof / The World Remained Deaf (within shouting distance of this marker); Gustaaf Karel Monnickendam
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 5, 2026
2. E.J. van Detschool Marker - wide view
Also see . . . E. van Detschool (Verdwenen Joodse Scholen, in Dutch). The QR code on the marker leads to this page, which is a more detailed history of the time that the E.J. Det School was an exclusively Jewish school. The markers and website are a project of Verdwenen Joodse Scholen (Vanished Jewish School), whose mission is to document and commemorate the Amsterdam Jewish schools and their pupils. Excerpt (in translation):
From the early 1930s, the E.J. van Det Vocational School for Girls was located at Hortusplantsoen 1, occupying half of a twin school building.(Submitted on June 16, 2026.)
It was one of eight vocational schools for girls in the city at the time. Collectively, these schools accommodated over 350 Jewish girls, with just under 200 attending the Van Det School. Regarding vocational education, the occupying forces decreed that,as of October 1, 1941, Jewish and non-Jewish students could no longer attend the same schools. Since the majority of students at the Van Det School were Jewish, it was decided that the non-Jewish studentsrather than the Jewish oneswould have to leave.Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 5, 20263. E.J. van Detschool and marker
The school was instantly transformed into an exclusively Jewish institution, becoming the only vocational school for Jewish girls in Amsterdam. The mission of the E.J. van Det School was "to offer the Jewish child from the working class valuable opportunities for greater prosperity and improved social conditions through the establishment of this school."
In October 1941, the school had over 290 pupils; a year later, in October 1942, that number had dropped to 150. By the final pupil count on May 17, 1943, only 57 girls remained. Ten days later, following the major roundups in the Jewish quarter, the Van Det School was also closed; all the pupils and teachers had vanishedhaving been arrested or gone into hiding.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 16, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
