Aqsa Mosque, The Hague

The Aqsa Mosque (Dutch: Aksamoskee) is a mosque in the Dutch city of The Hague. It was originally built as a synagogue.

The neoclassical building on the Wagenstraat opened in 1844, serving the Ashkenazi Jews of the city. It was expanded in 1922 and damaged by fire in 1944.[1] Around 80% of the city's Jews were killed in the Holocaust, while their synagogues were plundered.[2]

In 1976,[1] the Jewish community sold the building to the city on condition that it never be converted into a church. The city's Turkish Muslim community began using it without permission during Ramadan 1979 due to safety concerns over their previous mosque.[3] The Turkish community took legal ownership of the building in 1981.[4] The Jewish community moved into a converted former Protestant church, which has since been mostly repurposed as apartments.[5]

The building is a Rijksmonument with the number 459778, inscribed 19 October 1993.[6]

  • The building before its conversion to a mosque. Note the lack of minarets
    The building before its conversion to a mosque. Note the lack of minarets
  • Close-up of a minaret
    Close-up of a minaret
  • Islamic prayer, facing the mihrab
    Islamic prayer, facing the mihrab
  • Interior view
    Interior view

References
  1. "Wagenstraat Synagogue in Den Haag". Religiana. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  2. "The Hague, Netherlands". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. "Moslems Want to Retain Synagogue". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 3 August 1979. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. "The Hague". Jewish Cultural Quarter. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. "The Hague". JGuide Europe. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. "Synagoge, Wagenstraat 103, 2512 AS te 's-Gravenhage" (in Dutch). Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 3 May 2023.

52°04′30″N 4°18′48″E

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