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Oude Kerk

 G4 ⌂ Oudekerksplein v 4, 24 # 10am–6pm Mon–Sat, 1–5:30pm Sun ¢ 30 Apr, 25 Dec ∑ oudekerk.nl

Sitting incongruously in the heart of the Red Light District, the “Old Church” is Amsterdam’s oldest and most stately monument.

Experience Oude Zijde

t Illustration showing both the Oude Kerk’s medieval exterior and it magnificent interior

The Oude Kerk dates from the mid-13th century, when a wooden church was built in a burial ground on a sand bank. The present Gothic structure is 14th century and has grown from a single-aisled church into a basilica. As it expanded, it became a gathering place for traders and a refuge for the poor. Its paintings and statuary were destroyed after the Alteration in 1578, but the rare gilded ceiling, exquisite stained-glass windows and world-famous organ were undamaged. The church still holds services today, but also regularly hosts art exhibitions, performances and debates. The church is dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of the city.

t The medieval Oude Kerk is a striking sight against the frenetic Red Light District

2,500

tombstones are found in the church floor.

Experience Oude Zijde

Highlights

1250

First wooden chapel built

1330

Church dedicated to St Nicholas

1578

Calvinists triumph in the Alteration and iconoclasts destroy many of the statues in the church

1724

Christian Vater’s oak-encased Great Organ, with its 4,000 pipes, is installed in the nave