Jewish Children's Literature in the Netherlands

Abstract

The Jewish community in the Netherlands has existed since the seventeenth century. There have always been two communities: the larger, Ashkenazi community, and the smaller, Sephardic community. In the ab­sence of any scientific census or survey, the number of Jews in the Netherlands is, at the moment, estimated at about 25,000. Of these, about 11,000 are considered official members of the Ashkenazi com­munity, distributed among 42 local com­munities throughout the country. The three big cities in the western part of our country—Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and the Hague—account for 82% of all Ash­kenazi community members. The Sephardic community has fewer than 1,000 mem­bers, and just one congregation, in Am­sterdam. The membership of the liberal Jewish community (the so-called Pro­gressive Movement)—which is enumer­ ated separately—is about 3,000, in six congregations. Again, Amsterdam, Rotter dam, and the Hague account for 80% of its members. At least half of all residents of Jewish origin in Holland are not affiliated with the organized Jewish community.