Walking through the Red Light District, you may quite unexpectedly find yourself in Chinatown. There is no pattern here, just a geographical coincidence - they are located next to each other.
Immigrants from Asia have been living in Amsterdam for several generations now and are effectively considered Dutch. However, the cultural and religious traditions of Chinese immigrants remain very strong. Evidence of this is the He Hua Buddhist Temple, considered the largest in Europe. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands herself attended its official opening in 2000. Construction costs amounted to 4,1 million euros, but most of this money came from assistance from an international Buddhist monastic order, as well as private donations.
The atmosphere in the temple, as expected, is full of calm and serenity. There are three entrances here - one central one for monks and two side ones for all other visitors, of whom there are usually many. The building attracts with its harmonious design and colorful reliefs.
Inside, the complex is divided into the temple of Avalokiteshvara (the embodiment of compassion) and the temple of Shakyamuni (the founder of Buddhism). The main hall is devoted to the Buddha temple; there are also rooms for the library and dining hall, as well as rooms for meditation, study, and sleep.
