The Amsterdam Lyceum and Rector Gunning

Valeriusplein is home to the oldest lyceum in the Netherlands. Despite Amsterdam's impressive 84 secondary schools, this school stands out as special, not so much because of a unique teaching method, but rather because of the dedication of a remarkable person: its first rector, Christiaan Pieter Gunning. This former headmaster founded the lyceum in 1917 and held the position of rector for over 35 years, until 1952.

During the school's centenary, the Amsterdam newspaper 'Het Parool' wrote an article about this exceptional man. Gunning's emphasis was not so much on grades, but all the more on the well-being of pupils. Stories go that he visited pupils' homes to check whether they went to bed on time. Some pupils he even took with him on holidays. During World War II, many teachers at the lyceum were deported. The students were transferred to the Jewish Lyceum because Jewish students were no longer welcome at non-Jewish schools. At this, Gunning organised a demonstrative farewell meeting. This caused him to be arrested and transferred to Camp Amersfoort. Gunning survived the war and remained rector of the Amsterdam Lyceum for more than seven years.