Oude Kerk, Amsterdam 
Exterior of the Oude Kerk. See our Oude Kerk Photo Gallery for more.
Interior of the Oude Kerk.
Painted wooden ceiling (15th-16th cent).
Detail of painted ceiling: Pieta on a ship.
The Oude Kerk's grand organ (1728).
Misericord: "Sail When the Wind Allows."
Misericord: "Money Doesn't Fall Out of My Arse."
Location map and aerial view of Oude Kerk. For a larger interactive view, see our Amsterdam Map.
Located alongside a canal in the Red Light District, the Oude Kerk (Old Church) is the oldest monument in Amsterdam. Its large interior is quite interesting to explore, with painted ceilings, a huge organ, and amusingly carved choir stalls.
History
Construction on the Oude Kerk began in 1250 and was finally completed with the extension of the bell tower in 1566. During the Alteration of 1578, Protestant reformers confiscated the church and destroyed much of its Catholic ornamentation.
What to See
Inside, the Oude Kerk has three naves and a very spacious feel, the latter thanks to the Calvinist simplification. The vaulted wooden ceiling bears faded paintings dating from throughout the 1400s and 1500s, depicting various saints, ships, biblical scenes and coats of arms.
The floor is paved with rectangular slabs for memorials, each with its own number. Rembrandt's wife is memorialized on vault 28K, which bears the simple inscription "Saskia Juni 1642."
A further highlight of the interior is an impressive organ from 1728 by Christian Müller that is regularly used for recitals. And don't miss the inscription over the entrance to the marriage chapel, which warns: 't is haest getrout dat lange rout ("Marry in haste, repent at leisure").
Misericords
One decorative remnant of the Catholic Oude Kerk that escaped Calvinist destruction is the choir with its misericords ("mercy seats" to assist singers as they stand for long periods) dating from about 1480. As in many medieval churches, these are decorated with wooden carvings depicting everyday life, humorous scenes and many illustrations of proverbs and popular sayings, such as:
- "Money doesn't fall of out of my arse" (Money doesn't grow on trees)
- "Sail when the wind allows" (Things are easier when you have help)
- "Sitting between two chairs" (Folly of indecisiveness)
- "It's like trying to out-yawn an oven" (Attempting the impossible)
- "Banging your head against a brick wall" (Frustration when one keeps attempting the impossible)
- "By forging, one becomes a smith" (One learns by doing)
- "Don't pull too hard on a weak rope" (Don't rush a task)
Tower and Almshouses
The church tower can be climbed on an hourly guided tour for good views of Old Amsterdam.
The pretty almshouses that surround the Oude Kerk now contain red-fringed windows displaying the scantily clad women of the Red Light District.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Oude Kerk; Old Church; Church of St. Nicholas; Nicolaaskerk |
| Location: | Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Original/Primary: Catholic Current/Secondary: Calvinist |
| Dedication: | St. Nicholas |
| Category: | Churches |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
| Date: | 1250-1566 |
| Features: | Gothic Murals; Misericords |
| Photo gallery: | Oude Kerk Photo Gallery |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | Oudekerksplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Coordinates: | 52.374374° N, 4.898239° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 020/625-8284 |
| Website: | www.oudekerk.nl |
| Public transport: | Tram: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, or 25 to the Dam |
Travel Resources
- Amsterdam Map - our detailed interactive map of Amsterdam, plus hand-picked links to more
- Amsterdam Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
Article Sources
- Personal visits (November 2006 and August 2008).
- Official Website
- Frommer's Amsterdam
- Fodor's Amsterdam
Last updated on September 7, 2010.
