Joodse school

English translation

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Description

Introduction

BASIC SCHOOL FOR JEWISH CHILDREN, founded in 1886 to the design of architect Herman Rudolf Stoett in a decorative neo-renaissance style at the edge of the Jewish quarter in Leeuwarden. In the extensive oeuvre of the architect, the school occupies a remarkable place, because he usually designed in eclectic style. At the edge of the northern Nijehoveterp to the southwest of the Jacobijnerkerkhof, a parish church has stood since the Middle Ages. This Mariakerk, long in use after the Reformation as a bell-foundry, was demolished in 1765; the space thereby made available was subsequently partly built up with insignificant buildings. During the decades around 1900, a number of buildings for special purposes came into being. On the side of the Grote Kerkstraat a convent with several R.K. schools.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, basic education for (poor) Jewish children was provided by the city. Wealthy Jewish children went to private schools, such as the 'Burgerschool voor Israëlieten'. Special schools for the underprivileged were also subsidised by the authorities at that time. To this end, the Stads-Israëlitische armenschool was opened in 1817 on the Wissesdwinger. As a consequence of the law on primary education of 1857, it was closed again in 1861. The pupils transferred to various public schools. For religious education, the school committee of this population group rented the school for a few more years. At the end of 1885, the Israëlitische Gemeente purchased two plots of land and a piece of municipal land on the corner of the Jacobijnerkerkhof and the Perkstraat (now A.S. Levissonstraat). The land cost f 5840,= and the contract for the construction of the school designed by Stoett came to just over f 11000,=. The foundation stone was laid on 11 August and the school could be taken into use on 26 December of the same year. The school remained in use until the years of the Second World War, but then declined rapidly and was closed in 1943. Due to the decimation of the Jewish community of Leeuwarden, there could be no question of reopening the school after 1945. The building has been used for various purposes since then; it is now a Yoga centre.

Description

EXTERIOR: Building on an almost square site, with an irregular ground plan on the south side, with two cut-off, slightly projecting corners on the north side and a broad, slightly projecting section on the east side and on the west side an attached wing of one storey. Otherwise two storeys under a truncated hipped roof that with recesses follows the projecting sections and with two gable ends built forward of the roof, covered with tiles in ridge coverage. Projecting plinth, breast wall with sooted brick courses and ashlar sill bands in both storeys; otherwise built of reddish-brown brick, interspersed with sandstone bands and forged ornamental wall anchors. In the east gable two memorial stones affixed around 1985, one with Hebrew inscription and 'Genesis 37:40', the other with: 'The child is no more'. Frieze with brick mosaic as coping of the gables; profiled gutter on consoles. The gable end with shoulders between pilasters and provided with round window and crowned by ornamental ironwork facing the Jacobijnerkerkhof. The gable end at the corner with small claw stones and coping of ornamental ironwork bearing on a large scrollwork cartouche a partly worn inscription in Hebrew. In the southeast section large flush windows; in the northern corner section triple four-light windows, all with recessed arch rings provided with varied brick mosaics of reddish-brown, yellow and sooted stone under round, basket arch and segmental relieving arches, on the upper floor with keystones and closing stones. At the corner flush windows; that of the ground floor possesses in the arch ring a scrollwork cartouche with Hebrew inscription. On the Levissonstraat a round-arched portico entrance with double door and fanlight. In the low western wing three flush windows, one of which is in the cut-off corner.

INTERIOR: The arrangement of corridors and rooms is still in its original state. Very simple interior without special stylistic features.

VALUATION

School of general cultural-historical and architectural significance:

- by virtue of the dramatic history of use as a school for Jewish children;

- by virtue of the important urban planning location as one of the characteristic buildings at a ragged inner-city churchyard;

- as a remarkable neo-renaissance building in the oeuvre of an eclectic architect.