Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Oude Kerk
The city's oldest monument and first parish church stands on the site of an
early 13th-century wooden chapel that was destroyed by fire. Rebuilt as a
small stone hall church in the 14th century, over the years it expanded into a
mighty Gothic basilica, now in the heart of the Red Light District
(see p77)
.
The interior is stark, stripped of its Catholic treasures during the Iconoclasm
of 1566, but it boasts some exquisite stained glass, rare ceiling paintings and
a world-famous organ. It is dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of the city.
Top 10 Features
1 Great Organ
2 Maria Kapel
3 Ceiling
4 Saskia's Grave
5 Red Door into the Old
Sacristy
6 Decorated Pillars
7 Misericords
8 Spire
9 Stained Glass of the
Burgemeesters
0 Little Organ
Exterior of the Oude Kerk
For food and people-
watching, head for
Nieuwmarkt; In de
Waag (Nieuwmarkt
4) is recommended.
Go to the Dutch
Reformed Church
service at 11am on
Sundays, one of the
Spring or Summer
concerts, or the
World Press Photo
exhibition (late April
to early June).
Great Organ
With its eight pairs
of bellows, magnificent
oak-encased pipework,
marbled wood statues
and gilded carving, the
great organ is a glorious
sight
(right)
. Built by
Christian Vater in 1724
and renovated by Johann
Caspar Müller 14 years
later, it is known as the
Vater-Müller organ.
Tours of the tower
are expensive, so try
to make up a group.
Bring a pair of bin-
oculars to study the
ceiling decoration.
Maria Kapel
The most stunning
stained glass is in the
three windows of the
Lady Chapel. All date
from the 16th century;
two show scenes from
the Virgin's life, above
the customary picture
of the family who
donated the window.
Ceiling
The massive wooden
vaulted ceiling is claimed to
be the largest in Western
Europe, but it was only during
restoration work in 1955 that
the beautiful 15th-century
paintings were revealed.
• Oudekerksplein 23
•
Map P2
• 020 625 8284
•
www.oudekerk.nl
• Open 11am-5pm
Mon-Sat, 1-5pm Sun.
Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec,
30 Apr
• Admission €4; con-
cessions €3.20 (separate
charge for exhibitions)
•
Guided tours by
appointment; Tower
tours by appointment
(phone 020 689 2565)
Saskia's Grave
Among the great and the
good buried here is Saskia
van Uylenburgh, Rembrandt's
first wife, who died in 1642.
Her grave is number 29K in
the Weitkopers Kapel.
28
