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The Venlo synagogue was located on the Maasvlakte from its opening in 1865 until its demolition in 1965. Before that, services were held in a building at the Keulsepoort. The building was heavily damaged by the violence of war in the autumn of 1944.
Initially, Jewish worship services were held in the attic of a building at the Keulsepoort, but in 1827 the makeshift synagogue moved to the former protestant institute for the poor on the Helschriksel. The Jewish community flourished like never before, which led to the opening of a brand-new synagogue on the Maasschriksel in 1865. The construction was realised thanks to financial contributions from private individuals, King William I, the city of Venlo and the Province. The synagogue was heavily damaged during the intense bombardments in October and November 1944. Some of the Torah scrolls and ritual objects were spared.
Until 1947, the religious meetings took place in a small room of the Protestant church and during the 1960s Venlo had a liberal Jewish community for a short time.
In 1965, the final decision was made not to restore the damaged and dilapidated synagogue, the building was demolished. The local Jewish community was dissolved in 1975.
At the foot of Venlo's liberation monument on Monseigneur Boermanstraat, a memorial plaque has been attached in memory of the deported and murdered Jews.
Address
Maasschriksel 20, 5911 GZ Venlo