Schaduwkade in Amsterdam, Netherlands

 In World War II, Amsterdam’s large Jewish population and notable Jewish institutions were particularly hard hit by the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands.  The Jewish people were stripped of their rights and of their possessions, over 100,000 Jewish people were killed, and over 100,000 other Jewish people were deported from the country.


One of the many locations in Amsterdam affected by the Holocaust was Niewe Keizersgracht within the to the southeast of the city center.  The canal was constructed in the 17th century, and many of the buildings on the south side of the canal are centuries old.  This area became part of Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter, and as such, it was referred to as the Joodse Keizersgracht or “Jewish Keizersgracht”.  Unfortunately, during World War II, the residents along this canal were a prime target for the invading Nazi Germans.  Over 200 Jewish people living along this specific canal were either taken to concentration camps and died there or otherwise killed by the Nazis.


Since the end of World War II, Amsterdam has placed a notable focus on its Jewish heritage as well as on the lives lost during the Holocaust.  The construction of memorials has not only been organized on a national and citywide level but also on very local levels.  In 2012, the modern-day residents of Niewe Keizersgracht organized to set up a memorial for the Jewish victims who had previously lived along the canal.


The memorial was named the Schaduwkade, which is often translated into English as “Shadow Wall” but which could also be translated as “Shadow Quay” or “Shadow Embankment”.  Unveiled in 2013, the memorial consists of a series of metal markers set into the ground on the north side of the canal.  A series of square markers list the house numbers of the buildings on the opposite side of the canal, while a series of smaller metal markers list the individual residents who died in the Holocaust, including the dates of their deaths and the locations where they died.


While not as prominent nor as popular as many of Amsterdam’s other Jewish heritage sites, the Schaduwkade is still a poignant memorial where visitors can reflect on the aftermath of one of the worst events in 20th century history.


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