Amsterdam - Old Church

(Local Name: Oude Kerk) Amsterdam's oldest church was built in 1306 as a small cruciform church to replace a wooden church which is thought to have been built here in about 1300. It was the first hall church (i.e. with the aisles the same height as the nave) in North Holland and the model for other churches in the region (e.g. in Edam). It was dedicated to St Nicolaas by the Bishop of Utrecht. There were soon plans for enlarging it and in 1370 two chapels were built on to the choir and an ambulatory added. The church was spared the two great fires which devastated Amsterdam in the Middle Ages. Other chapels were partly endowed by guilds. The large side chapels were added around 1500. The alterations to the choir in the 16th C. were financed (as was usual in those days) by a lottery. Also dating from this period is a portal on the south side which gives access to the "iron" chapel, where the documents showing the city's privileges, including the freedom from tolls granted in 1275, were kept behind an iron door, until they were finally transferred to the municipal archives in 1872. The tower was also remodelled in the 16th C. and the low Gothic tower was replaced by the present high west tower. This has a carillon (by Hemony, 1658) which is among the finest in the country. It is possible to climb to the top of the tower which affords a fine view over Amsterdam. The interior of the church, now Protestant, has features dating from before the Reformation, including three magnificent windows (1555) from the Dutch High Renaissance, and finely carved wooden choir-stalls. Many famous citizens of Amsterdam are buried here, including Rembrandt's wife Saskia and deserving admirals.