REVIEW · AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam: Jewish Cultural Quarter & Gassan Diamonds
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Jewish Cultural Quarter Amsterdam · Bookable on GetYourGuide
A diamond factory tour plus Amsterdam’s Jewish Cultural Quarter? That’s a smart pairing. I like that you get Gassan Diamonds’ hands-on, guided craftsmanship, and you also walk through the Jewish Cultural Quarter with a ticket that covers multiple key sites. You’re basically doing two different “Amsterdam” stories in one day: craft and memory.
My main caution is that one important site inside the quarter tied to the Holocaust story, Hollandsche Schouwburg, is listed as closed for reconstruction until mid-2023. Also, you’re not doing a guided tour of the Jewish Cultural Quarter itself, so you’ll rely on the included audio guide and map to get the most out of the buildings.
In This Review
- Key things you should know before you go
- A ticket that mixes craft and memory in Amsterdam’s Jewish Cultural Quarter
- Gassan Diamonds: the guided polishing tour (and champagne)
- The Portuguese Synagogue: visiting a 17th-century landmark
- Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior: one pass, multiple ways to understand 1600 to today
- Using the audio guide and map to make the quarter feel manageable
- The Hollandsche Schouwburg closure: a key consideration before you count on it
- Price and value: why $26 can be a good deal here
- Timing and logistics: how to plan a smooth day
- Who this is best for (and who should think twice)
- Should you book? My take
- FAQ
- What does the Gassan Diamonds tour include?
- Which Jewish Cultural Quarter sites can I visit with this ticket?
- Is the National Holocaust Museum at Hollandsche Schouwburg included?
- What languages are available for the audio guide and the Gassan Diamonds tour?
- What are the opening hours for the main sites?
- Are there restrictions on bags or pets?
Key things you should know before you go

- One ticket, several places: Jewish Museum, Jewish Museum junior, and Portuguese Synagogue are all included.
- A live Gassan Diamonds tour: you’ll see the stages of diamond polishing with staff guiding you.
- Champagne during the diamond tour: you’ll be served a glass of Champagne on-site.
- Audio guide + map included: you can move at your own pace across the quarter.
- Small-group feel on the diamond side: the Gassan portion is described as intimate and personalized.
A ticket that mixes craft and memory in Amsterdam’s Jewish Cultural Quarter

This combo works because it doesn’t treat Amsterdam like one-style sightseeing. At Gassan Diamonds, you’re focused on process: how raw crystals become polished stones you’d recognize from jewelry stores. Then, at the Jewish Cultural Quarter, you’re focused on people and place, with four landmark locations clustered within about a square kilometer.
For you, that’s a big quality-of-day advantage. Instead of hopping between far-flung attractions, you can stay in one central area for the Jewish sites, while the diamond tour gives you a live, guided break from self-guided museum time.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Amsterdam.
Gassan Diamonds: the guided polishing tour (and champagne)

The diamond portion starts at Gassan Diamonds, Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 173–175. The core experience is a 1-hour guided tour that walks you through different stages of diamond polishing, led by the staff. If you’ve ever looked at a “finished” diamond and wondered what happens between rough stone and shine, this is exactly where that question gets answered.
What I like here is that the tour is not just sales talk. You’re watching skilled craftsmen at work as the transformation happens step by step. That matters because it gives you a framework to understand what you’re seeing later if you browse the boutique after the tour.
Two practical notes to plan around:
- You’ll have a glass of Champagne served during the tour (included), so keep your timing steady and don’t rush out.
- This is a working factory space. The tour is offered in many languages, but it still helps to arrive a few minutes early so you’re not scrambling.
After the guided part, you can browse the shop with its wide jewelry and watch collection. If you want a souvenir, this is also the moment you’ll be most “in the mood” to understand what you’re looking at, because the process is fresh in your head.
The Portuguese Synagogue: visiting a 17th-century landmark

Next up is the Portuguese Synagogue (Mr. Visserplein 3). This stop is built around the idea of time travel: you’re stepping into a place that lets you experience the story of Amsterdam’s Jewish community from centuries back.
The Portuguese Synagogue is one of the headline sites in the quarter. From a visitor’s point of view, it works well because it’s not only about artifacts and explanations. It’s about architecture and atmosphere—how the space communicates the weight of faith, community, and continuity.
One timing detail to keep in mind: it’s open Sunday to Friday from 10:00 AM, and closing times can vary by month. That means it’s worth checking the quarter’s official opening-hours page right before you go, not just relying on a standard museum schedule.
Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior: one pass, multiple ways to understand 1600 to today

The other anchor addresses are both on Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, covering the Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior. The big appeal here is scale and coverage: together, these spaces are designed to bring Jewish culture and history to life across a wide period, from 1600 to the present day.
If you’re visiting as an adult, the Jewish Museum is your best bet for context and breadth. If you’re visiting with younger kids, the junior side can feel like a more accessible entry point without making the subject feel watered down.
What makes this especially useful with your ticket is that you also get access to all permanent and temporary exhibitions in the Jewish Museum. That’s helpful because it gives you options based on your energy level. If you’re on a tight schedule, you can focus on permanent galleries. If you have more time, temporary exhibits give you a reason to slow down and look longer.
Using the audio guide and map to make the quarter feel manageable

You won’t be stuck in a rigid bus-style flow. Your ticket includes an audio guide and map for the Jewish Cultural Quarter, which is built for self-paced visiting.
This matters because the quarter has multiple stops in a compact area. When you’re moving on your own, you need something that tells you what each building is, why it matters, and what to look for. The audio guides are offered in several languages, including Dutch, English, German, French, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. So if your group has mixed language levels, you can still make it work.
Also, the quarter is designed as a cluster: Jewish Museum, Jewish Museum junior, Portuguese Synagogue, and Hollandsche Schouwburg sit within a tight walking radius. With a map, you can choose the order that suits you—start with the synagogue for the “older Amsterdam” feeling, then head into museum exhibits for the wider story.
The Hollandsche Schouwburg closure: a key consideration before you count on it

One site inside the quarter is connected to the National Holocaust Museum and the National Holocaust Memorial at Hollandsche Schouwburg. The information provided with this ticket notes that it’s closed for reconstruction until mid-2023.
So here’s the smart approach for you: treat that stop as a possible bonus, not a guaranteed part of your day. If it’s open when you visit, great. If not, you won’t be missing the core of this combo, because your ticket still covers the Portuguese Synagogue plus the Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior.
Price and value: why $26 can be a good deal here

At $26 per person, this combo can be good value if you’ll actually use both halves of the experience.
Here’s what you’re getting, in practical terms:
- One-hour guided tour at Gassan Diamonds
- Champagne served during that tour
- Admission to three major sites: Portuguese Synagogue, Jewish Museum, and Jewish Museum junior
- The Jewish Cultural Quarter audio guide and map
- A ticket that’s valid for 1 month, so you’re not forced into one exact day for the museum portion
The value sweet spot is the diamond part. Many craft tours charge extra because they’re staff-led and time-bound. Here, that guided factory experience is bundled with museum admissions that are easy to do on your own within the quarter area.
Timing and logistics: how to plan a smooth day

This ticket is designed with flexibility. The diamond tour has available starting times, but the pass for the Jewish Cultural Quarter is valid for one month, so you can spread museum time if your Amsterdam schedule gets busy.
Opening hours basics (since they can make or break your plan):
- Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior: daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Portuguese Synagogue: Sunday–Friday from 10:00 AM (closing varies monthly)
- Gassan Diamonds: daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
You’ll still want to check the quarter’s official opening-hours page for the Portuguese Synagogue’s exact closing times, because they can shift.
One more practical issue: no luggage or large bags, and pets aren’t allowed (assistance dogs are allowed). If you’re traveling with a bigger bag, plan to store it before you arrive.
Who this is best for (and who should think twice)

This combo is especially good for you if:
- You like hands-on, guided craft experiences (not just photos in a showroom)
- You want one ticket that covers multiple Jewish Cultural Quarter sites
- You’re visiting with kids and want a junior-friendly museum option alongside the main exhibits
It might be less ideal if:
- You expected a fully guided walking tour through the whole Jewish Cultural Quarter, because the Jewish side here is audio-guided, not guided
- You’re counting on Hollandsche Schouwburg as a must-see day plan, given the stated reconstruction closure period
Should you book? My take
I think this is worth booking if you want a day with contrast and meaning: diamond craftsmanship in a real factory setting, followed by major Amsterdam Jewish sites you can explore at your own pace. The included audio guide + map helps you get more than surface-level viewing, and the Champagne perk is a nice touch that turns the diamond tour into something you’ll remember.
Before you click buy, do two quick checks: confirm the current status of Hollandsche Schouwburg for the reconstruction closure note, and pick a Gassan Diamonds starting time that matches your energy level. If you do that, this combo is a strong value way to experience two sides of Amsterdam that most people rarely pair.
FAQ
What does the Gassan Diamonds tour include?
You get a 1-hour guided tour at Gassan Diamonds, plus a glass of Champagne served during the tour. The tour includes observing the stages of diamond polishing.
Which Jewish Cultural Quarter sites can I visit with this ticket?
With the ticket, you can visit the Portuguese Synagogue, the Jewish Museum, and Jewish Museum junior, including admission to the Jewish Museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Is the National Holocaust Museum at Hollandsche Schouwburg included?
The information provided says the National Holocaust Museum and the National Holocaust Memorial at Hollandsche Schouwburg are closed for reconstruction until mid-2023. It also notes admission is not included for that closed site.
What languages are available for the audio guide and the Gassan Diamonds tour?
The Jewish Cultural Quarter audio guides are available in Dutch, English, German, French, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. The Gassan Diamonds live guided tour is offered in multiple languages, including English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and others (subject to availability).
What are the opening hours for the main sites?
The Jewish Museum and Jewish Museum junior are open daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. The Portuguese Synagogue is open Sunday–Friday from 10:00 AM, with closing times varying monthly. Gassan Diamonds is open daily 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
Are there restrictions on bags or pets?
Large bags and luggage are not allowed. Pets are not allowed either, though assistance dogs are allowed.






















