The Synagogue Weesp (NL)

The building where the Synagogue is located in Weesp (NL) has a rich and turbulent past. It has been a car garage and an employment office. Today is hosts, next to the synagogue, also the annual “Weespers aan de wand” art event and numerous exhibitions throughout the year. The Jewish community of Weesp in 1774 uses a house as synagoguein de Korte Middenstraat. By 1840, the building was about to collapse. Moreover, by the increasing number of the Jewish inhabitants, the place became too small. It was then decided to build a new synagogue. Thanks to a major fundraiser this building on the corner of the Nieuwstraat and the Hanesteeg was consecrated by the end of October 1840.

During the occupation, the people of Weesp participated in the “Februari strike” on February 25 and 26, 1941. Before the end of that year all Jews deported from Weesp. By far the greater part of them did not survive the concentration camps. The synagogue was ransacked, only the “Holy Ark” is preserved in good condition. In 1947 the Jewish community of Weesp and that of Bussum were attached. The synagogue was then used as a garage and car repair shop. Later, after a restoration in 1986, it was used as an employment office. Since April 1997 the building was again in use as synagogue.

In 2011 we have supplied the synagogue with a for this location special designed illumination system. The 5x5m 150KG weight square shaped construction houses integral fluorescent dimmable lamps to illuminate the ceiling and a mains voltage track system on the bottom side to power 16 units of Atomis Objektor 70W CDM-R111 spots. The entrance is illuminated with Meson square 120-C surface mounted LED downlights.

Sponsors: Rabobank Coöperatief fonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Rotaryclub Weesp Vechtstreek Noord, Stichting Levi Lassen den Haag, Stichting Mr.August Fentener van Vlissingen and “de Vrienden van de Weesper synagoge”.

Installation: GUTS retail, Son.
Planning: WVER, Weesp
Photography: Eric Hage
Design: Philip Feenstra 2009 .

www.synagogeweesp.nl
objektor CDM(HCI)-R111 adapter spots