The settlement of Jews in Amsterdam-Zuid led to the construction of the synagogue on Jacob Obrechtplein. In 1928, the Obrechtsjoel by Jewish architect Harry Elte (1880-1944) was inaugurated. With its expressive forms, the building is a typical example of the expressionist architectural style in the Netherlands. Notable are the stained glass windows depicting the twelve tribes of the Jewish people, which stand out well in the predominantly black and white interior. J.G. Wattjes is a Dutch architect and professor. He has several buildings and a series of publications to his credit. This photo is probably from a series of photographs taken for Wattjes' publication A synagogue in Amsterdam-Zuid, in the magazine Bouwbedrijf. Wattjes called the synagogue, a design by Harry Elte "A very important work of contemporary church architecture." Before the 20th century, buildings for Jewish ritual use in the Netherlands were mostly designed by non-Jewish architects. A 1988 article in the Nederlands Dagblad writes: "It was not until the 20th century that Jewish architects were deliberately sought out. Jacob Baars, Harry Elte, Abraham Alsace and later Spier and Waterman built synagogues that wanted to be primarily Jewish, although these buildings cannot be separated from their Dutch context." [Smit] When asked in 1925 whether a specifically Jewish architectural style could ever exist, Elte replied, "...entirely out of the question. Architecture is too much designed on material, space and form." [Van Grieken] Nonetheless, as Wattjes notes in his 1930 Building Company article, the Obrecht Shul recounts Elte's keen understanding of the role of architecture in facilitating spiritual experience, writing that "for the construction of the Holy Ark, the most sacred space of the [synagogue], the architect sought to portray inner devotion, surrender to the Supreme Being." (free translation). Source: drs. W. Smit: Synagogues not only church and meeting place but also a piece of national Jewish consciousness. In: Nederlands Dagblad 12-8-1988. Source: L. van Grieken, P.D. Meijer, A. Ringer ; Juliette Roding (ed.), Harry Elte PHzn. (1880-1944): architect of the Jewish community during the interwar period, 2001, p.27. Source Article from https://jck.nl/verhalen-en-verdieping/artikel-synagoge-obrechtplein.