Amsterdams Lyceum
| Motto | Potius deficere quam desperare (Latin) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Literal: Rather perish than despair |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1917 |
| Students | Approximately 1000 students |
| Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Colours | |
| Athletics | Rowing club Trident http://www.rvdedrietand.nl |
| Affiliations |
OLO (Alumni association) http://www.oudleerling.eu/ Hallywood film and videoclub http://vimeo.com/channels/hallywood Parent association http://ouderraad.amsterdams.info/ |
| Website | http://www.amsterdamslyceum.nl |
The Amsterdams Lyceum is a Dutch secondary school combining gymnasium and atheneum. Both school types prepare students to go to university. It was established in 1917. The Amsterdams Lyceum has around 1000 students, most of whom are from Amsterdam, but small numbers from outer municipalities such as Amstelveen and Badhoevendorp 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 the Nazis 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 Januari 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[1] in year 5 and the Certificate of Proficiency in English[2] 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 London, Corso Italiano to Florence and Trayecto Espanol to Granada. In the fifth year the whole class goes to Rome. 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 8 or 10 days. The options are Venice, South Africa, Israel, St. Petersburg, Sevilla, New York, Prague and Iceland.
The neighbourhood
The Amsterdam lyceum is located in a suburb of Amsterdam called Oud-Zuid. Lots of families with little children live there and famous Dutch actors and writers. That area of Amsterdam is below the centrum, a 5-minute ride to the canals and Red Light District. The school is in the museum area of Amsterdam with the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebouw. The Vondelpark is adjected to the museum district. The 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 theaterclub a certificate is handed out to you, and with that certificate the chance of being accepted to a professional art school is very big. Every year there is a theater 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.
Notable people from the Amsterdams Lyceum
- Johan Benders
- Bender Rodrigez
See also
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Amsterdams Lyceum. |
- (Dutch) Official website
Coordinates: 52°21′4.73″N 4°51′52.57″E / 52.3513139°N 4.8646028°E