Oosterkerk, Hoorn

The Synagogue in Medemblik is an Ashkenazi synagogue completed in 1808. The synagogue was restored and reopened in 1976.

The synagogue can be dated back to the year 1791 and is provided with a small Neo-Classical façade, topped by a triangular pediment and containing large rounded arched windows with tracery. The main entrance includes a Hebrew inscription referring to Psalm 65:5b and the date 5551 (1791 CE). The Torah ark was located in a niche at the opposite of the main entrance, placed against the eastern wall. The Bimah was placed in the center of the assembly hall. The Neo-Classical Torah ark was later relocated to the Joods Historisch Museum in Amsterdam. A small women’s gallery could be found right above the vestibule of the synagogue. The synagogue closed down in 1964 after the Jewish community of Enkhuizen merged with Alkmaar. The building is currently in use as a church.

In 1808, a private house was redeveloped as a synagogue. The building was expanded and the current front façade with its neoclassical entrance, which looked very similar to the synagogue in Enkhuizen, was added After a subsequent expansion in 1844, the interior was changed according to the plans of the architect W.D. du Croix. On both sides of the entrance an inscription can be found with the date (5)586 and (5)604 according to the Hebrew calendar which respectively corresponds with 1826 and 1844. The front entrance originally contained other Hebrew inscriptions referring to Haggai 2:9 and Psalm 55:15. A renovation of the building took place in 1932 by the architect A. Eczas and functioned as a synagogue until 1942. Ten years later, the building was sold to the Baptist community and was therefore subsequently used as a church.