Potius deficere quam desperare. These Latin words etched in brick greet you at the Amsterdams Lyceum. They mean Rather perish than despair. A powerful message for a school. This is more than just a school. It’s a testament to resilience. It’s a living monument to history.
The Amsterdams Lyceum is the oldest lyceum in the Netherlands. Founded in 1917 by Dr CP Gunning it opened its doors in 1920. Architect HAJ Baanders designed the building. Artist RN Roland Holst painted the windows. It’s a beautiful example of Amsterdamse School architecture. A designated historic site and city monument.
Dr Gunning had a vision. School was more than diplomas. He fostered extracurricular activities. In 1931 the school bought Wolkenland. A recreational retreat in the southeast Netherlands. Each class spent a week there. They worked on unique projects. A truly forward-thinking approach to education.
World War II cast a dark shadow. The Nazis seized the building. Classrooms became barracks. The rector’s house became an officers’ mess. Dr Gunning courageously protested the deportation of Jewish students. This act of defiance cost him dearly. He was fired arrested and imprisoned in Amersfoort concentration camp. The school lost 95 former students during this period. Every April a ceremony remembers this loss.
Today the Amsterdams Lyceum thrives. It offers intensified language courses. Trayecto Espanol Corso Italiano and Fast Lane English. Students travel to Spain Italy and Cambridge. A fifth-year trip to Rome is a twenty-year-old tradition. Eight international exchanges further broaden horizons. Venice South Africa Israel St Petersburg Seville New York Prague and Iceland are all destinations.
The Lyceum sits in Amsterdam’s Oud-Zuid. A wealthy neighbourhood. Famous actors and writers live nearby. The museum area with the Van Gogh Museum the Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebouw is close by. The Vondelpark is a popular spot for students to relax and play football.
The school is alive with activity. Many clubs cater to diverse interests. A drama club offers a certificate after three years. This significantly boosts chances of professional theatre school acceptance. A rowing club a video photo and etching club also exist. The HALO school newspaper has won awards. The Oud-Leerlingen Organisatie (OLO) the alumni association keeps the spirit of the Amsterdams Lyceum alive.
Many notable graduates emerged from these halls. Politicians poets writers actors and scientists. All shaped by the Amsterdams Lyceum’s unique blend of academic rigor and humanistic values. The Amsterdams Lyceum’s story is one of enduring legacy. It’s a story of perseverance. It’s a story of education that transforms lives. It’s a story waiting to be explored further.