Beth Haim of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel



The Beth Haim of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Netherlands. It was purchased for use as a burying ground by the Jewish community of Amsterdam in 1614 and is located in the village of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, in the countryside near Amsterdam.

In addition to its age, the graveyard is interesting because the tombstones have inscriptions in three languages, Portuguese, Dutch and Hebrew, and because, unusually for a Jewish cemetery, many of the tombstones are carved with elaborate scenes including human figures.

There are two paintings by Jacob van Ruisdael that were inspired by Beth Haim. Although the paintings are usually called in English "The Jewish Cemetery at Ouderkerk", the artist felt free to add picturesque elements, and they therefore do not closely resemble the actual location.

People
Famous people buried at the Beth Haim include:
 * Samuel Pallache (ca. 1550–1616), Moroccan diplomat
 * Joseph Pallache (c. 1580 – 1638/1648/1657) merchant and diplomat
 * numerous Pallache family (later as "Palache") descendants of brothers Samuel and Joseph Pallache
 * Menasseh Ben Israel (1604–1657), rabbi and friend of Rembrandt van Rijn
 * Joseph Pardo (ca. 1561–1619), Italian rabbi
 * David Pardo (ca. 1591–1657), Dutch rabbi and son of Joseph Pardo
 * Eliahu Montalto (1604–1657), personal physician to Maria de Medici
 * Joseph Pardo (ca. 1624–1677), English hazzan
 * Baruch Spinoza's parents (16th–17th centuries)
 * Maup Caransa (1916-2009), real estate developer

The cemetery is open to visitors and is free of charge.