Radha Krishna Mandir Amsterdam

August 29, 2023 Murli Dev

16689

Address: Saaftingestraat 310, 1069 BW Amsterdam, Netherlands

History

Many East Indians came to the Netherlands in the 1970s. After their arrival in the Netherlands, the East Indians in Amsterdam and the surrounding area felt the need for religious and cultural gatherings. They were traditionally accustomed to such gatherings. The religion is the most important aspect of the Hindu culture because the spiritual values are important to the Hindus. In addition to meeting the spiritual need, a religious gathering strengthens the mutual spiritual and social bond.

In 1984, five local organizations in Amsterdam entered into a partnership under the name SSDA (Shri Sanatan Dharm Amsterdam). The aim was to establish a Hindu temple that would make a concrete contribution to the integration of the Hindustani in the Netherlands while retaining their own identity. The SSDA was given a space at number 25 Rustenburgerstraat in Amsterdam for the implementation of the above-mentioned goal.

By the end of 1985, only one of the five local organizations had survived and it was decided to form a new board with people from outside. With the newly formed board, religious and cultural gatherings were organized, with an average of 12,000 visitors per year. On 21 March 1997, the court in Amsterdam ruled (by judgment in summary proceedings instituted by the owner) that the building at 25 Rustenburgerstraat had to be vacated a week later. The removal of the religious images from the temple was accompanied by many emotions among the faithful visitors and administrators of the temple.

The board of the SSDA came into contact with the Osdorp district in 1997. The Osdorp district pointed out the possibility of acquiring a piece of land on a long lease. A meeting followed with the local alderman of the Osdorp urban district and the SSDA board. After many correspondences and discussions between land affairs of the Osdorp district and the board of SSDA, the board of SSDA received the commitment to acquire a piece of land on long lease with a size of 400 square meters. This size was just enough for the construction of a Hindu temple.

On December 10, 1997, the SSDA board submitted a request to the executive board of the Osdorp district to acquire a plot of land on a long lease. This concerned a plot located on the corner of Saaftingestraat and Valkenisseweg. The request was granted and the board could begin preparations.

Since the introduction of the separation of church and state law (revision of the constitution introduced in 1948 by the statesman Thorbecke), it has not been possible to build a temple with financial support from the government. This meant that SSDA could not count on any form of government subsidy. The construction of the RADHA KRISHNA MANDIR has been financed from our own resources.

Build Radha Krishna Mandir

On Monday, July 19, 1999, the construction of the Radha Krishna Mandir temple was started. This temple is the first characteristic Hindu mandir in the Netherlands. This happened through a prayer service and the driving of the first pile. The mandir became accessible to everyone from March 2000. The multicultural city of Amsterdam was enriched by the mandir with an important cultural product. The mandir offers a location for rest, peace and spiritual contemplation. Amsterdam Osdorp has become known to millions of Hindus abroad because of this mandir.

The Shri Sanatan Dharm Amsterdam foundation has met all legal requirements for the construction of the Radha Krishna Mandir.

Later, a part was added to provide dining space and extra space for visitors during the service. From 2016, a renovation of the mandir started, the most special innovation being the new domes on the roof. These give the mandir a beautiful outward appearance as a characteristic of a Hindu temple.