Heerlen Synagogue Gets a New Future as LEV
After decades, the old synagogue on Stationsstraat is set to have a new future. The municipality of Heerlen and the Weller housing authority are jointly purchasing the building. Weller is buying the residential complex, while the municipality is purchasing the synagogue and the retail space in front of it.
Soon you’ll be able to access the synagogue from the street again. We’re making this special site in Heerlen’s history visible and accessible once more.
This is one of three heritage projects to which the municipality is devoting extra attention during this administrative term. The other two projects are the Roman Museum and the Royal.
A place with a new lease on life
The synagogue will be named LEV, which is Hebrew for “heart.”
The congregation doesn’t just want to preserve the synagogue; they also want the building to once again become an important part of the city.
This is an important step for a place that has remained hidden for a long time. For a long time, it seemed almost impossible to reconnect the synagogue with the city. Thanks to our collaboration with Weller, that is now possible. We want to keep the unique history of this place visible while also making room for the future. LEV is meant to be a place where the past, present, and future come together.
Alderman Theo de Groot (Center and Heritage): “The synagogue is an important part of Heerlen’s history. Over the years, the building has gradually faded from view. By making the synagogue accessible again, we are bringing back a piece of the city. We are making this special place visible once more and connecting it to the city center.”
Who is involved in the plans?
The municipality is working with various organizations on the future of the synagogue. These organizations are contributing their ideas under the name LEV:
- NIHS Limburg
- Leerhuis Limburg Foundation
- Limburg Jewish Cultural Heritage Foundation
- Weller
- Buurtteams
- SCHUNCK
- Movare
- SVOPL
- Province of Limburg
- RWTH Aachen
- De Spiegel Art House Cinema
- Parkstad Limburg Theaters
- Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
These organizations bring together knowledge and ideas from various fields, including the Jewish community, education, science, culture, social services, and government.
Together, they are exploring new ways to reimagine the synagogue. The building’s Jewish history and significance remain the starting point. The space must also be meaningful to the people of Heerlen today and to future generations.
Plan for 2027
The municipality and LEV’s partners will be working on a plan for the synagogue in the coming period. We intend to present the plan in 2027.
The plan states:
- How We're Making the Synagogue Accessible Again
- What kinds of activities can take place? We’re thinking of small cultural events
- How We Connect the Synagogue to Downtown
After many years, a new chapter is beginning. The synagogue is once again becoming a visible and important place in Heerlen.