Chinatown, as the name suggests, refers to the overseas Chinese community. In the early days Chinese immigrants pulled together, under sometimes difficult conditions, and gradually developed a local community. Nowadays, Chinatowns are found all over the world and most have changed from simple residential areas to busy commercial centers and tourist attractions. Following are some European Chinatowns.
Amsterdam Chinatown, the Netherlands: home to the largest Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Europe
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He Hua Temple (Lotus Temple) in Amsterdam Chinatown, the largest Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Europe. |
Amsterdam Chinatown is just a few streets away from the famous De Wallen red light district. The main street of Amsterdam Chinatown is Zeedijk and over the years, it has grown into the neighboring Nieuwmarkt area. Despite being a relatively new Chinatown that evolved around the 1980s, Amsterdam Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in the Netherlands and still growing.
Amsterdam Chinatown is also home to He Hua Temple, 荷花寺, the largest Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Europe. This monastery is a tourist attraction and offers visitors a free tour at schedule times. Apart from tourists, the Chinese and Dutch devotees either attend courses or meditate in the temple.
(Source: chinatownology.com)
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