The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands features in the History GCSE curriculum. With this in mind, a group of intrepid Year 10 and 11 students aided by Miss Howard, Mr Stephens, Miss Tompkins and Miss Terry set off on Thursday 23rd October for the Channel Tunnel and onwards to Amsterdam. As they arrived, the music emanating from the hotel was so loud they could barely hear the receptionist. They had arrived during Amsterdam Dance Week. Dinner followed and a good night's sleep.

 

Friday started with an insight into the vibrant Jewish community that existed in Amsterdam before Nazi occupation. Students visited the Portuguese Synagogue and heard why thousands of Jews fled from Spain and Portugal to set up new and prosperous lives during Amsterdam's 'Golden Age'. A walking tour of the Old Jewish Quarter was completed and students began to spot the 'stumbling stones' in the pavements as they went by; a record of those who were taken from houses during the Holocaust and killed. The Dutch Resistance Museum was also part of the morning's activities as it provided and really interactive insight into the lives of everyone in the Netherlands before, during and after Nazi occupation.

 

Friday afternoon started with a workshop and tour of Anne Frank's House. Students showed great character as they walked long distances through the wind and rain and ate a late lunch. Amsterdam's streets are notoriously busy with trams, cars, buses and the ubiquitous bicycles. What followed was a canal cruise of the city in a flat open barge boat and the clouds began to disappear for our tour. The sun had appeared at last. The day ended with games and dinner back at the hotel.

 

Saturday brought shopping in one of the many street markets in the beautiful Noorderkerk area of the city. Then Doug, the legendary coach driver, was able to get students into the shop at the Johan Cruyff (Ajax) Stadium on the outskirts of town and shirts were purchased by some. What followed was sobering. A visit to Camp Vught, an SS Concentration Camp and National Memorial. The tour guides were excellent and students gained a further insight into the Holocaust and its impact.

 

Finally homeward bound. Many were asleep by the time the coach crossed the Belgian border and after an earlier crossing home, the half term holiday began. 

 

Thanks to all the staff for giving up their time away from their families to make this visit happen and thanks to our fantastic students of whom, we could not be more proud.

 

KTE 5.11.25