The Jewish Quarter, also known as the Jerusalem van het Westen, was a historic Jewish ethnic enclave within Amsterdam, Netherlands in the present-day Waterlooplein and Nieuwmarkt neighborhoods of the city. During the 17th century, Jewish refugees fleeing Catholic inquisitions in Spain and Portugal and from pogroms in Poland settled in Amsterdam in large numbers, which had a tradition of religious tolerance. In 1603, they received permission to practice their religion, and the first synagogue was constructed in 1639. By 1672, 7,500 Jews were living in Amsterdam, and they enjoyed religious liberty, ample economic opportunities, and social equality. Amsterdam was nicknamed the "Jerusalem of the West" and had 80,000 Jewish residents at the time of World War II; during the Holocaust, 60,000 of Amsterdam's Jews were deported to Nazi concentration camps. A total of 75-80% of Amsterdam's Jewish population was deported and murdered during the war. By the 21st century, 15,000 Jews still lived in Amsterdam.
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