Amsterdams Lyceum

The Amsterdams Lyceum is a Dutch secondary school combining a gymasium and Atheneum. It was established in 1917.

The Amsterdams Lyceum has around 1000 students, most of whom are from Amsterdam, but increasing numbers from outer municipalities like Amstelveen, Zaandam, Landsmeer and Monnickendam find their way to this school. The Amsterdams Lyceum is the oldest lyceum of the Netherlands. Is 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 second world war 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 Camp Amersfoort in Januari 1942. The school lost 95 (former) students during this period, every April a ceremony takes place to commemorate this loss. At the Amsterdams 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. The Amsterdams 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 Amsterdams 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 Amsterdams 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 Amsterdams 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. In Oud-Zuid there are more schools. Most of those schools have the highest education system of Holland just as the Amsterdams lyceum, VWO. Hervormd Lyceum Zuid, Ignatius Lyceum, Vossius Lyceum, Gerrit van de Veen and Vons Vitae Lyceum are all in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid.

The Amsterdams 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 Amsterdams Lyceum view the performances. The Amsterdams Lyceum also has a rowing club, De Drietand.