Despite being a Western- and Nothern-European country, Holland has traditionally had a strong Sefardi community. This was a result of common Spanish-Dutch history - house of Habsburg (or rather its Spanish branch) ruled what is today Netherland till 1581.
Although Jews were oficially expelled from Iberian peninsula in 1492, many "crypto-Jews" formally converting to Catolic religion left only much later - often for Amsterdam.
You shouldn't miss the huge and magnificient Portugese Synagogue at Mr. Visserplein 3, the Jewish Historical Museum (Jonas Daniel Meijerplein 2-4) and the famous Anne Frank House (Prinsengracht 267, Jordaan quarter).
Known for its tolerant culture, political stability and economic prosperity, Netherlands became magnet for Ashkenazi immigration during last centuries - the youngest community being that of Israeli expatriots.
Amsterdam today is a city of various Jewish communities, schools and it even has a Jewish wing at Amstelland Hospital in Amstelveen where you can get kosher food and hallachic treatment.
All kosher restaurants are under the joint supervision of the Amsterdam Ashkenazi and Sephardi Rabbinates. There are also some hotels that will serve kosher breakfast on request if ordered in advance (La Richelle, Delphi, Arsenal, Doria).
Useful information: www.esnoga.com
www.amsterdam.info/jewish/
www.jewishtraveladvisor.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_the_Netherlands
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