General
The Shri Sanatan Dharm Amsterdam (SSDA) foundation is based on the spiritual needs of
She wants to fulfill this need by:
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To spread knowledge about Hinduism to society.
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Exchanging experiences with Hinduism in the form of satsangs (meetings).
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To provide a temple to those who practice Hinduism.
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To play a role in the education of young people through information and courses about the Hindu Religion in the context of Dutch society.
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Dissemination of information related to spirituality.
In recent years, the mandir has expressed this in various ways. Services are organized every Sunday and holidays are organized on festival days (Shivratri, Navratri, Shri Krishna Janamasthmi etc.). During these days there is an opportunity to offer prashad, participate in songs (bhajans) and listen to khatas (stories from ancient scriptures). In addition, the mandir has been facilitating Hindi lessons and special youth days for some time.
History
Many Hindustani came to the Netherlands in the 1970s. After their arrival in the Netherlands, the Hindustani in Amsterdam and the surrounding area felt the need for religious and cultural gatherings. They were traditionally accustomed to such gatherings. Religion is the most important aspect of Hindu culture because spiritual values are important to Hindus. In addition to meeting spiritual needs, 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 could make a concrete contribution to the integration of the Hindustani in the Netherlands while retaining their own identity. To carry out the above-mentioned purpose, the SSDA was given access to a space at Rustenburgerstraat number 25 in Amsterdam.
Of the five local organizations, only one had survived at the end of 1985 and it was decided to form a new board including people from outside. With the newly formed government, religious and cultural meetings were organized, attracting an average of 12,000 visitors per year. The court in Amsterdam ruled on March 21, 1997 (by judgment in summary proceedings filed by the owner) that the building at Rustenburgerstraat 25 had to be vacated a week later. The removal of the religious images from the temple was accompanied by many emotions among the loyal visitors and administrators of the temple.
The SSDA board came into contact with the Osdorp district in 1997. The Osdorp district pointed out the possibility of acquiring a piece of land on lease. A conversation followed with the local councilor of the Osdorp district and the SSDA board. After many correspondences and discussions between land affairs officers of the Osdorp district and the SSDA board, the SSDA board received the commitment to acquire a piece of land on lease of 400 square meters. This size was just sufficient for the construction of a Hindu temple.
On December 10, 1997, the board of SSDA submitted a request to the executive board of the Osdorp district to obtain a leasehold plot. This concerned a plot located on the corner of Saaftingestraat and Valkenisseweg. The request was granted and the board could start preparations.
Since the introduction of the separation of church and state law (constitutional revision 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 was financed from our own resources.
Build Radha Krishna Mandir
On Monday, July 19, 1999, the starting signal was given for the construction of the Radha Krishna Mandir temple. 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 tranquility, peace and spiritual reflection. Amsterdam Osdorp has become known to millions of Hindus abroad for this mandir.
The Shri Sanatan Dharm Amsterdam foundation has met all legal requirements during the construction of the Radha Krishna Mandir.
Later, a section was added to provide a dining area and extra space for visitors during the service. In 2016, a renovation of the mandir started, the most special innovation being the new domes on the roof. These give the mandir a beautiful external appearance as a characteristic of a Hindu temple.