Old Church Amsterdam

If you visit the oldest preserved building in the city, you'll go far back to Amsterdam's origins. The Oude Kerk is located in the De Wallen district.

In the 13th century, there was a cemetery here with a tiny wooden chapel. At that time Amstelredam was a small fishing village. With the arrival of the noble family van Amstel, the building of the Kasteel van Amstel and the construction of dams, a stone building was erected in the second half of the 13th century in place of the wooden chapel and dedicated to St. Nicholas. In the 15th century the Nieuwe Kerk, the coronation church of the Dutch kings, was built.

The Oude Kerk was built as an imposing hall church with three naves and is considered the first church of this type in the Netherlands. Until the 16th century, extensions were made, including the addition of the Sebastian Chapel.

In the 16th century, the interior of the church was largely destroyed by iconoclasts and redesigned for Protestant worship.

The church contains the tombs of some 10,000 Amsterdam citizens, including that of Rembrandt's wife, Saskia, and that of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, one of the founders of New York.

In the 1950s, the Oude Kerk was closed due to dilapidation. After extensive securing and renovation measures, the church could be used regularly again as of 1999. In addition to the church services, there is an extensive cultural programme, ranging from concerts to changing exhibitions.