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The Amsterdams Lyceum is a Dutch
secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
combining '' gymnasium'' and '' atheneum''. Both school types prepare students to go to university. It was established in 1917. The Amsterdams Lyceum has around 1100 students, most of whom are from
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
, but small numbers from outer municipalities such as Amstelveen and Badhoevedorp also find their way to this school.


History

The Amsterdams Lyceum is the oldest lyceum of the Netherlands. It was founded in 1917 by Dr. C. P. Gunning (1886-1960) who remained rector until 1952. The building has been in operation since 1920, it was designed by the Dutch Architect H.A.J. Baanders and built in the architectural style of the Amsterdamse school. The windows were painted by artist R.N. Roland Holst and the building is an official historic site and city monument. Dr. Gunning believed that school was more than just a place to obtain a diploma, many extra-curricular activities were initiated and in 1931 the school bought a private recreational retreat in the southeast Netherlands; Wolkenland. Every class would spend one week a year there working on alternative projects and assignments. During the
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
the
Nazis Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...
appropriated the building, using the classrooms as barracks and the Rector's house as an officers' mess. On top of this, Dr. Gunning was an outspoken objector to the deportation of students. His protest meant that he was fired, arrested and imprisoned in Amersfoort concentration camp in January 1942. The school lost 95 (former) students during this period, every April a ceremony takes place to commemorate this loss.


Intensified language courses

At the Amsterdam Lyceum students can work their way through various optional intensified language courses. Trayecto Espanol, Corso Italiano and Fast Lane English. The latter course leads up to the Certificate in Advanced English in year 5 and the Certificate of Proficiency in English in year 6.


Foreign exchanges

The Amsterdam Lyceum is famous for its foreign trips and exchanges. Besides Wolkenland the students go to other countries in their last three years of school. With Trayecto Espanol, Corso Italiano and Fast Lane English you are expected to visit the country corresponding to the language you study. This takes place in the fourth year of high school. Fast Lane students travel to
Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
, Corso Italiano to
Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...
and Trayecto Espanol to Granada. In the fifth year the whole class goes to
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
. This is a 20-year-old tradition. In Amsterdam gymnasium schools visit Rome with the entire fifth year but the Amsterdam Lyceum goes with 120 students, also the Athenaeum students, who do not follow the gymnasium course. In the last year of high school there are eight international exchanges with schools in other countries. Those schools first visit the Amsterdam Lyceum before the students of the Dutch school visit them. The time span of those exchanges is usually eight or ten days. The options are
Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
, South Africa, Israel, St. Petersburg, Sevilla, New York,
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
and
Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
.


Neighbourhood

The Amsterdam lyceum is located in a neighbourhood of Amsterdam called Oud-Zuid. Many families with little children live there and famous Dutch actors and writers. This area of Amsterdam is located south of the city center. It is among the wealthiest neighborhoods of Amsterdam. The school is in the museum area of Amsterdam with the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebouw. The Vondelpark is adjacent to the museum district. Students of the Amsterdams Lyceum go there often to relax, eat and play football.


Clubs

The Amsterdam Lyceum has a lot of clubs organized by the school. Every student no matter what age is allowed to participate in those activities. Auditions are only required at the dance and theater club. After three years at the drama club a certificate is handed out to you, and with that certificate the chance of being accepted to a professional theatre school is considerable. Every year there is a theatre week of dancing, singing and acting where teachers and the other students of The Amsterdam Lyceum view the performances. The Amsterdam Lyceum also has a rowing club, "De Drietand", a video, photo and etching club. They also have a great school newspaper, called the HALO. It's made by the students and has won several awards.


Alumni association

The ''Oud-Leerlingen Organisatie'' (Former Students Organization) abbreviated ''OLO'' is the alumni association of the school. Every former student is automatically considered a "member". The OLO is formally a foundation and is funded via donations of the alumni.


Notable graduates

* Mahir Alkaya, politician * Johan Benders Dutch resistance fighter during the second world war * Remco Campert, Dutch poet and writer * Gijs van Hall, Dutch resistance fighter during WWII, Mayor of Amsterdam and Senator * Walraven van Hall, Dutch banker en resistance fighter during the second world war * Gerrit Kouwenaar, Dutch poet * Gijs Scholten van Aschat, actor * Dick Swaab, doctor and neurobiologist


See also

* List of schools in the Netherlands


References


External links

* {{Coord, 52, 21, 4.73, N, 4, 51, 52.57, E, source:nlwiki_region:NL_scale:1000, display=title Educational institutions established in 1917 Schools in Amsterdam 1917 establishments in the Netherlands