Churches and temples in Amsterdam. Walking around Amsterdam. Iconic architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces. National Monument, Amsterdam

(Dutch Amsterdam) arose at the end of the 12th century, when local fishermen erected a wooden dam on the Amstel River to protect their small fishing settlement from regular floods. This event is considered to be the beginning of the history of Amsterdam, the name of which is translated as “dam on the Amstel” (Dutch “dam” - dam). It soon turned out that as a result of the construction of the dam, the mouth of the river was transformed into a convenient natural harbor. The unexpected advantage allowed Amsterdam to quickly develop into an important seaport and trading center. The city developed at a rapid pace. For example, already in 1489, Emperor Maximilian I, in gratitude for monetary loans, granted the right to decorate the city coat of arms with the imperial crown.

In 1585 Antwerp (Amsterdam's largest competing port) was taken by the Spaniards during hostilities, which led to the massive resettlement of Antwerp merchants and artisans (they fled from the Spanish Inquisition), as well as all Jews (they were afraid of the Alhambra Decree prohibiting Jews from living in Spanish territories) to Amsterdam. It was at this time that Jewish jewelry craftsmen brought the technique of diamond cutting, which explains Amsterdam's leadership in the diamond market for more than 400 years.

In 1602 Leading Dutch merchants (in order to eliminate mutual competition and joint opposition to Portuguese, Spanish and English trade) founded the East India Company, the largest commercial organization of its time, the first joint-stock company in the world. In turn, the company opened the first stock exchange for trading securities in Amsterdam. By combining the capabilities of the richest merchants, the East India Company launched activities on a colossal scale and monopolized trade with the lands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In essence, it has become a state within a state, and Amsterdam is the city where its headquarters is located and through which, accordingly, the main financial flows pass. It was a time of dawn and prosperity. The company existed until the end of the 18th century, turning the Netherlands into the leading maritime and colonial power in Europe.

Amsterdam's 300 years of rapid development came to an end during the French occupation of 1795–1813, when Napoleon's restrictive trade policies and continental blockade severely damaged the economy and trade.

The main feature of modern Amsterdam is four water channels in the form of concentric circles, which created the special architectural appearance of the historical center of the city. The first of the canals - Singel - was built in the middle of the 15th century as a defensive ditch. It was used in this capacity until 1585, then, due to the rapid growth of the city, it was converted into a shipping canal. The new transport artery demonstrated high efficiency, so at the beginning of the 17th century, in order to drain the marshy area around the city, three new canals were built at once - Herengracht (Lord's Canal), Keizersgracht (Imperial Canal) and Prinsengracht (Princes Canal). Huge volumes of excavated soil were used as fill to raise the overall ground level. You can learn more about the history of Amsterdam canals by visiting a specialized one.

It is likely that Peter I's acquaintance with Amsterdam and its canal system (during a trip in 1697) had a significant influence on the historical decision of the Russian Tsar to begin draining the swamps in the Neva delta to build the future St. Petersburg.

The main attractions of Amsterdam

(Dutch: Koninklijk Paleis) is one of the main historical attractions of Amsterdam. The building was erected in 1655 as the city hall. In the 17th century, due to the successful development of the East India Company, Amsterdam was at the height of its greatness, so the city hall building was designed to emphasize the luxury and splendor of the capital. However, in the city of canals, monumental construction is very difficult, therefore, in order to obtain a stable and reliable foundation, 13.5 thousand piles were used during construction. Yellow sandstone walls, a dome with a weather vane, rich interiors and marble decoration made the building an excellent example of classicism architecture.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Louis Bonaparte liked the town hall so much that he ordered to turn it into his personal residence. The next owner of the landmark was the Orange dynasty (the ruling dynasty of the Netherlands to this day), whose representatives completed the renovation of the interiors and interior decoration begun by Louis Bonaparte, turning the landmark into a magnificent royal palace. For example, paintings by such Dutch artists as Rembrandt, Jordaens, Lievens and Bol appeared. Nowadays, King Willem-Alexander periodically holds official receptions and events here, and despite this, the palace is open to tourists.

Muiderslot(Dutch: Muiderslot) is a well-preserved and restored castle from the late Middle Ages, located 15 km from Amsterdam. The exact date and circumstances of construction are unknown. The first written mention dates back to the end of the 13th century, as a fully built and functioning castle, at which there is a tax collection point for merchant boats traveling along the Vecht River to the city of Utrecht, an important trading center of that time.

Externally, Muiderslot is a red brick castle, as if straight out of the pages of chivalric novels - small and elegant, equipped with loopholes and towers. At the beginning of the 17th century, fortification functions became a thing of the past, and it turned into a palace-type mansion, in which its owner Peter Hoft created an exquisite literary salon, where writers, artists, composers and simply highly educated people gathered. Gardens were laid out near the castle. This was the heyday of Muiderslot.

However, the castle also survived tragic times - at the end of the 18th century it was used as a prison, and during the Napoleonic Wars there were French barracks here. The gardens, of course, were destroyed. Due to lack of funds, restoration work could only begin in the 20th century - the building was restored and a branch of the State Museum was placed in it. Today in Muiderslot there is an exhibition of weapons and armor from the Middle Ages, a collection of paintings, furniture and household items. The castle also periodically hosts festivals of historical reconstruction and falconry. Thanks to the spirit of antiquity that has been carefully restored within these walls, Muiderslot is in many ways superior to other attractions in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Museums

(Hermitage aan de Amstel) is a branch of the St. Petersburg Hermitage. The choice of Amsterdam is not accidental, since Peter I was a frequent guest in the capital of the Netherlands, and his daughter became the wife of King Willem II. The museum is located in the Amstelhof building on the Amstel River, built in the 17th century. It is believed that Peter I himself visited it, inspecting a shelter for elderly women, which at that time was located in Amstelhof.


The Hermitage on the Amstel was officially opened in 2009 by Queen Beatrix and Dmitry Medvedev. Only temporary thematic exhibitions from the storerooms of the Russian Hermitage are held here. Their duration ranges from four months to two years. There is a restaurant "Neva" at the museum. Of the ticket price, 1 euro is transferred to the account of the Russian Hermitage.

(Amsterdams Historisch Museum) presents an extensive exhibition illustrating the history of the capital of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum's collections number about 80 thousand exhibits, which include paintings, sculptures, furniture, household items, jewelry, books, textiles and handicrafts (ceramics, porcelain, glass). You can also get acquainted with archaeological finds, see a 17th-century carriage, a gallery with portraits of honorary citizens, an illustration of the development of the city from a small fishing village to a world-class capital and, of course, paintings by famous Dutch artists. Some of the museum's collections have already been digitized and are available for viewing on the official website.

(Scheepvaartmuseum) is dedicated to the history of navigation in Europe in general, and the Netherlands in particular. Even the museum building dates back to the Golden Age, a period when the capital was the most important trading maritime hub. Exhibits include weapons, navigational instruments, sailor's household items, maps of sea routes, art paintings on a naval theme, and even ship models. Next to the museum is a life-size replica of an 18th-century cargo ship. The museum building, its collection and this ship are the most interesting sights of Amsterdam. In the 17th century, this building housed the Admiralty Arsenal, where weapons and ammunition were stored.

(Diamond Museum) in the capital of the Netherlands is not only luxury, but also part of the history of the city. For more than 400 years, Amsterdam has been the center of the diamond industry. Museum visitors are introduced in detail to the process of creating a diamond from a diamond, told about the estimated value and much more. A special video shows how diamonds are mined directly in quarries. The video is shown in English and Dutch, and a written translation in Russian is also provided. The most interesting exhibition is the hall where copies of world-famous diamonds or jewelry with them are presented.

Tourists who are interested in diamonds are advised to visit the Gassan Diamonds or Coster Diamonds diamond factory, where the emphasis is on practical and visual excursions. They are completely free, but be careful: this type of marketing move can sometimes lead to expensive unplanned purchases.

The Center for Science and Technology, a striking landmark of Amsterdam. The original museum building was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who is one of the founders of the high-tech style. Thanks to his design, ventilation pipes, steel ceilings and other functional details can be seen inside. From the stepped roof of the museum, which can be accessed through the fourth floor, a beautiful panoramic view of the old city opens. This is the best observation deck in Amsterdam.

“Energy” is an exhibition about how energy is obtained and used. "The World of Form" demonstrates what geometry and geodesy are. Here you can create polyhedra and other shapes, learn more about perspective and symmetry, and see how mathematics becomes a tool for transforming the material world. The exhibition “Amazing Constructions” will tell you about the most interesting engineering structures (bridges, skyscrapers, high-speed elevators). “The Search for Life” is dedicated to the topic of the origin of life on Earth, studying the history of the Universe from the Big Bang to the distant future. In NEMO Laboratory you can put on a scientist’s white coat, safety glasses and begin interesting, simple experiments. Journey with the Mind - exploring our brains in action. The exhibition includes puzzles and information tests that allow you to learn more about yourself. “Intelligent Technologies” demonstrates the capabilities of modern science: saving energy, reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and much more. “Water World” and “The Power of Water” will talk about drinking water, using the power of water flows for mills, dams, and creating water-based, “green” energy. One of the unusual exhibits is “Facts about Teenagers,” which explains how and why a teenager’s body and brain changes. This is a fun and engaging exhibit that explains a lot about puberty.

(Tassenmuseum Hendrikje) is one of those attractions of Amsterdam that can rightfully be considered unique. There are three similar museums in the world, but it is in the capital of the Netherlands that the richest collection is located. It appeared thanks to Hendrikja Ivo, who collected rare handbags and decided to make her collection available to the general public.

The museum has 3,500 bags and wallets, the oldest of which were created in the 16th century. The most valuable exhibit is a men's wallet from the Dutch Golden Age, made of goatskin. Of course, the majority of visitors to the Amsterdam museum are women, whose interest in antique rarities is multiplied by their interest in charming accessories. Also on display are pieces from contemporary designers, including Hermes and Chanel.

(Museum Van Loon) - an example of a Dutch merchant (noble) house of the 16th–19th centuries. Named after the van Loon family, who owned the house since the 19th century. The last of the family members turned part of the house into a museum. Thus, the mansion is actually a testament to the life of the Van Lohn family over two centuries. The museum contains paintings, antique furniture, dishes, tapestries, various interior and household items typical of a rich house of the 16th–19th centuries. Temporary exhibitions of works of art are also periodically held, and in the garden with a rose garden, which is arranged around the house by analogy with the gardens of the 16th century, you can see a unique attraction - the garden house “Temple of Apollo”.

(Museum Willet-Holthuysen) is a luxurious mansion that was transferred to Amsterdam with the aim of turning it into a museum, preserving the appearance and historical interiors. Built in the 17th century, the Willet-Golthuysen house had long resembled a museum by that time: the last owners, Louise Golthuysen and her husband Abraham Willet, collected a unique collection of antique objects, engravings, paintings and statues. Few museums in Amsterdam can boast such a rich collection belonging to one family. The collection includes not only paintings and sculptures, but also various ceramics, silver and glass, furniture, jewelry and even a library. The premises of the mansion are filled with mystery and mystery. The luxurious decoration of the 19th century banquet hall, which is considered one of the best in the country, a winter garden, an antique hall and antiques everywhere - this is what tourists can see when visiting this interesting attraction of Amsterdam.

(Pijpenkabinet) is the only museum attraction that does not fight smoking, but encourages it. You can really smoke here, and here you can also find the largest collection of smoking pipes in the world. Like many original museums, it began with the collection of a private collector. Today, up to 20 thousand exhibits are stored in the storerooms, and the permanent exhibition includes about three thousand. In addition to smoking pipes, the museum displays a variety of devices that people have ever used for the smoking process.

(Heineken Experience) is an attraction of Amsterdam that you can taste. More precisely, you can taste three whole mugs of the famous beer, the recipe of which has not changed for 150 years - and completely free of charge. In addition, the museum demonstrates how and from what this product is made. Visitors can take part in the Bottle Ride, which allows you to feel like you're in a bottle of beer. The attraction includes watching a video about making a beer bottle. You stand on a podium, creating the effect of moving along a conveyor belt. The museum has other interactive exhibits and activities. Not long ago, the building where the museum is located housed working breweries - they were closed only in 1988.

(Madame Tussauds) - a collection of wax figures of celebrities, the first branch of the London museum of the same name. Since the museum is located in Amsterdam, the emphasis is on famous figures from the Netherlands. For example, an entire room is dedicated to Rembrandt. A separate exhibition is reserved for political figures - Queen Beatrix, John Kennedy, Ben Gurion, Indira Gandhi, Barack Obama and many others. And, of course, there are show business stars here: Madonna and Angelina Jolie, Elton John and Brad Pitt, Pavarotti and Marilyn Monroe. Visitors also have the opportunity to visit a small workshop where wax figures for the museum are made.

(Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum) is a unique attraction of Amsterdam. The specifics of local legislation allow you to use and purchase soft drugs in special stores - coffee shops. Therefore, the appearance of a museum that tells the history of hemp cultivation is a completely natural result.

In addition to being used for “medicinal” purposes, hemp has been known in industry for a long time. In particular, shipbuilding until the 19th century could not do without hemp (these are fibers from hemp stems), which was excellent for making marine ropes. Due to its strength, hemp was also used as cheap quilted armor until the advent of firearms. Of course, hemp armor did not help to completely avoid wounds from edged weapons, but at least it made it less deep, and in some cases even insignificant.

(Museum Het Grachtenhuis) tells the history of the building. Every year, water buses carry about three million tourists, many of whom come to Amsterdam solely to admire these canals. The museum is housed in an original 17th-century mansion. The exhibition is dedicated to the creation of canals and covers the history of four centuries.

(Tulpenmuseum) tells how tulips are grown and selected, what ancient and modern technologies for cultivating flowers exist. For true aesthetes and lovers of beauty, the museum has an art exhibition of paintings with tulips. Few people know that the real birthplace of tulips is Turkey, or the fact that in the mid-17th century, rare varieties of tulips caused a stock market crash after a long period of speculative price increases raised their value hundreds of times. The event went down in history as “Tulipomania”; it is often considered one of the first classic (in the modern sense) stock market bubbles. The real scale of the damage and the involvement of the population in “tulip mania” is still the subject of economic study, which is why everything that happened has become overgrown with all sorts of legends.

Museum of Erotica(Sex Museum) underlines the reputation of the most tolerant city in Europe. Here you can see both interesting from a historical point of view and educational exhibits, as well as purely entertaining ones. More modest visitors will be pleased to take a photo with mannequins Marilyn Monroe and Mata Hari, and for those who like provocations there are genitals of all sizes. Important exhibits include old erotic photographs, antique sculptures, Chinese drawings and European prints. The museum houses thematic exhibitions named after famous personalities - from Oscar Wilde to the Marquis de Sade.

Film Museum functions to preserve Dutch films. The museum's collections contain about 37 thousand films, 60 thousand posters, many photographs and books. The very first materials date back to 1895. The archive was founded immediately after World War II. Previously, the Film Museum was located in the Vondelpark, but in 2009 it moved to a new modern building, where it became part of a project called EYE Film Institute. The latter includes several exhibition spaces and four cinema halls. The main goal of the project is the digitization and preservation of films.

Amsterdam Galleries

(Rijksmuseum) is an art gallery exhibiting masterpieces of Dutch and European painting from the 15th to 19th centuries. Founded by Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon I, in 1808. The art collection is based on paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hulme and Ruisdael. The modern museum building was built at the end of the 19th century, and at the beginning of the 20th century its main hall was specially rebuilt to house Rembrandt’s masterpiece “The Night Watch”. The State Museum also displays sculptures, archaeological finds, drawings, photographs and engravings.

(Stedelijk Museum) is the first contemporary art gallery in Amsterdam, where all its directions are represented. Here is the largest collection of Malevich’s paintings (outside Russia), which at one time was not returned to the USSR after an exhibition in Berlin. Also in the City Museum are exhibited Chagall, Kandinsky, Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, various art groups, representatives of video art, pop art and many others.

(Museum Het Rembrandthuis) is a beautifully restored historical landmark in which the great artist lived from 1639 until his bankruptcy in 1656. If this terrible event became a sad stage of life for Rembrandt, then for connoisseurs of his work the bankruptcy is significant because in As a result, an important archival document was created - a notarial inventory compiled for the sale of property at auction. It was on its basis that at the beginning of the 20th century the furnishings of the house, the interiors of living rooms, and also the workshop were recreated.

The newly formed museum could not afford to purchase at least a few paintings by the great master, so it began collecting engravings, which are known as “Rembrandt etchings.” Today, about 260 of the 290 existing in the world have already been collected. Also, thanks to private patrons, several masterpieces by Rembrandt appeared, but the bulk of the museum’s art collection consists of works by his students and contemporaries.

(Van Gogh Museum) is an art gallery that houses the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh and artists who worked during the same historical period (Gauguin, Picasso, Seurat, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec). The permanent museum exhibition tells about the life and work of the post-impressionist artist. Temporary exhibitions on art history are periodically held. In 2002, two Van Gogh paintings were stolen from the museum and were never found.

Amsterdam churches

(Sint-Nicolaasbasiliek) is the main Catholic church of Amsterdam. It was erected at the end of the 19th century, when the ban on Catholic worship in the Netherlands was lifted. Architecturally, the basilica combines the Renaissance style, elements of neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque. The facade is formed by two towers with a rose window in the middle and a bas-relief depicting Christ and the evangelists. The basilica houses a collection of frescoes, and above the altar is the crown of Maximilian I. Classical music concerts are often held.

(Oude Kerk) - a church in the Gothic style, the oldest landmark in Amsterdam (the name translates as “old church”). Founded in 1213 as a wooden chapel, in the 14th century the Oudekerk was rebuilt into a grandiose red brick structure. The Bishop of Utrecht consecrated it in honor of St. Nicholas. In 1556, Calvinists, followers of iconoclasm, destroyed the rich interiors, so to this day the interior looks ascetic. Several reconstructions gave the church Renaissance features. Rembrandt often visited Oudekerk; here he baptized all his children. It is curious that the attraction is located in De Wallen, the most famous of. Recently, a special observation deck was erected on the roof of the church.

(Nieuwe Kerk) - a church built in the 15th century, when the Oudekerk could no longer accommodate all the parishioners. Its name is translated as “new church”. Frequent fires led to several reconstructions and the appearance of neo-Gothic elements. Nieuwekerk is used for coronations (most recently the coronation of Willem-Alexander in 2013) and royal weddings. Today the New Church is not a parish church. Exhibitions and organ concerts are held here for the general public.

(Westerkerk), or Western Church, has the tallest spire in the city (its height is 85 meters). At the top of the spire is the crown of the Austrian Empire. Rembrandt and many other famous Dutchmen were buried here. In the interior, it is worth paying attention to the huge organ in the Baroque style, the doors of which were skillfully painted by de Leresse. This is a Calvinist church, so instrumental music remained banned for a long time. In the summer there are weekly concerts here.

Zuiderkerk(Zuiderkerk) or South Church is the first Protestant church in Amsterdam, built at the beginning of the 17th century. The style of the building is Dutch Renaissance. The Zuiderkerk is a pseudo-basilica with Gothic interiors. The 80-meter-high stone bell tower offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Local residents claim that Rembrandt painted the legendary masterpiece “The Night Watch” in the Zuiderkerk, since the huge canvas did not fit in the workshop. Three of his children are also buried here. Today there are no services held in the church - the attraction operates as a museum and information center.

(Ons" Lieve Heer op Solder) - a secret church that appeared as a protest of the merchant Jan Hartmann against the ban on Catholic services in the Netherlands (operated from the end of the 16th century to the 19th century). The church was built on the upper floors and attic, where it comes from name. It performed religious functions for about two centuries. Despite the secrecy, during this period Catholics even found the opportunity to expand and reconstruct their secret church. Today it is no longer active, but functions as a church. Amstelkring Museum(Museum Amstelkring), which, in addition to the church itself, also includes the living rooms (bedroom, dining room, kitchen, office) of the owner of the house. The museum is named after a group of historians who defended and preserved this important landmark of Amsterdam in the 19th century.

What else to see in Amsterdam

Mill Sloten(Molen van Sloten) is a working windmill that has been pumping water for over 150 years. The fact is that the water level differed from the level of the North Sea, which is why similar mills operated throughout the city until the beginning of the 20th century, when the Afsluitdijk dam was built and the Zuiderzee project was implemented. At the mill it works Cooperation Museum(Kuiperijmuseum), where you can see the real tools that coopers used to make barrels. It is necessary to clarify that for many centuries, barrels were the only reliable packaging container - cheese and butter, beer and wine were stored and transported in them. The exhibition is complemented by drawings and mannequins that demonstrate the working process of making barrels. Also here you can see a small exhibition dedicated to Rembrandt, because he was born into a large family of a wealthy mill owner. At the entrance there is a sculpture “Rembrandt and Saskia van Uylenburch”.

Montelbanstoren

(Waag) is the oldest building in Amsterdam (not counting the church). It was erected in the 15th century as a city gate. In the 17th century, the gate was rebuilt into a regular building and a scale service was installed, which weighed goods for the market. The top floor was given over to the representatives of several craft guilds. Here were the “offices” of masons, blacksmiths, artists and surgeons, the latter offering the public a curious and educational amusement - an anatomical theater. What kind of action took place within this theater can be seen in Rembrandt’s painting “The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Tulp.” Today, the restored building is occupied by a café and a media organization.

Amsterdam has many interesting places that have given the capital of the Netherlands the reputation of not only a cosmopolitan city, but also the most tolerant. Perhaps the most famous attraction - Red light district, which has been the center of vibrant nightlife since the 14th century. Amsterdam was primarily a port city, so newly arrived sailors immediately headed here in search of light entertainment. Centuries have passed, but nothing has changed - every evening, under the light of the lights, local beauties in the display windows await visitors. There are always a lot of idle curious people here, so you can calmly stroll around the Quarter and just look around. And for the more adventurous, there are peep shows, stripteases and regular brothels.

One of the popular “vacation” options is visiting coffee shops, which can be recognized from afar by the Rastafarian flag. They sell pies filled with mushrooms and hashish. But with such liberality towards soft drugs, there are strict rules - smoking even regular cigarettes in public places is prohibited, and cannabis (the only permitted soft drug) cannot be exported and is sold in quantities of no more than 5 grams per person. In smart shops you can buy medicinal herbs that have a mild non-narcotic effect on the human body, for example, valerian, which causes a sedative effect.

The Oudekerk is the oldest surviving building in the capital of the Netherlands. The appearance of the church literally reeks of the Middle Ages

The Oudekerk Church was built at the beginning of the 14th century on the site of a wooden chapel and consecrated in 1306 by the Bishop of Ulrecht


The original appearance of the temple was constantly modified, the Gothic structure began to acquire architectural elements of the Renaissance. The first reconstructions were carried out half a century after construction

In 1556, the Roman Catholic Old Church lost all its internal splendor, falling victim to Calvinist iconoclasts, and subsequently, in 1578, it was completely transformed into the Calvinist church, which it still is


In the 16th century, the temple was plundered several times; even the unique altar, whose painting was painted by Jan van Scorel and Maarten van Heemskerk, did not survive. Only the painting on the ceiling remained untouched, which the vandals simply physically could not reach


In 1681, the choir of the church was covered with a copper plate, the inscription above which stated that the false faith was expelled from this holy place in 1578


The Old Church was Rembrandt's favorite place, here he baptized both sons and here, since 1782, his wife rests in a small personal crypt


Thanks to a fortunate coincidence, the Oudekerk has existed to this day in the same condition in which it was when Rembrandt himself walked here. This is the only building in Amsterdam that has come down to us intact.


The church covers an area of ​​about 3300 square meters. An artificial embankment was created for the foundation, which is considered the hardest soil in this swampy area


The Oudekerk roof is the largest medieval solid timber roof in Europe. Estonian beams dating back to 1390 are considered among the best acoustically in Europe


The floor of the church is literally made of tombstones. The reason for this is the fact that the temple was built right in the cemetery, where local residents continued to be buried until 1865. As a result, today the Oudekerk stands on 2,500 graves, under which there are another 10 thousand earlier burials


There are three organs installed in the Old Church - the old organ from 1658, the second, “cabinet” organ from 1767, and the third, created by the German masters Water in 1724 and considered one of the best baroque organs in Europe. During the restoration of the church tower in 1738, the organ was dismantled and changes were made to its original design by another German, Kasper Müller. The musical instrument became much more powerful and was called the Water-Muller organ.

Today, the Oudekerk hosts many concerts, ceremonies and other important events; in fact, the temple is the center of the religious and cultural life of Amsterdam


In the windows of houses directly opposite the church you can see girls legally providing intimate services. Also on the square in front of the temple there is a bronze relief depicting a hand caressing a breast. Who built it instead of a couple of stones directly into the pavement is still unknown


In March 2007, a bronze statue of Belle was erected here, near Oudekerk, in honor of prostitutes around the world


Night view of the Old Church


The Oudekerk is the oldest surviving building in the capital of the Netherlands. The appearance of the church literally reeks of the Middle Ages. The Oudekerk Church was erected at the beginning of the 14th century on the site of a wooden chapel and consecrated in 1306 by the Bishop of Ulrecht
The original appearance of the temple was constantly modified, the Gothic structure began to acquire architectural elements of the Renaissance. The first reconstructions were carried out half a century after construction
In 1556, the Roman Catholic Old Church lost all its internal splendor, falling victim to Calvinist iconoclasts, and subsequently, in 1578, it was completely transformed into the Calvinist church, which it still is
In the 16th century, the temple was plundered several times; even the unique altar, whose painting was painted by Jan van Scorel and Maarten van Heemskerk, did not survive. Only the painting on the ceiling remained untouched, which the vandals simply physically could not reach
In 1681, the choir of the church was covered with a copper plate, the inscription above which stated that the false faith was expelled from this holy place in 1578
The Old Church was Rembrandt's favorite place, here he baptized both sons and here, since 1782, his wife rests in a small personal crypt
Thanks to a fortunate coincidence, the Oudekerk has existed to this day in the same condition in which it was when Rembrandt himself walked here. This is the only building in Amsterdam that has come down to us intact.
The church covers an area of ​​about 3300 square meters. An artificial embankment was created for the foundation, which is considered the hardest soil in this swampy area
The Oudekerk roof is the largest medieval solid timber roof in Europe. Estonian beams dating back to 1390 are considered among the best acoustically in Europe The floor of the church is literally made of tombstones. The reason for this is the fact that the temple was built right in the cemetery, where local residents continued to be buried until 1865. As a result, today the Oudekerk stands on 2,500 graves, under which there are another 10 thousand earlier burials There are three organs installed in the Old Church - the old organ from 1658, the second, “cabinet” organ from 1767, and the third, created by the German masters Water in 1724 and considered one of the best baroque organs in Europe. During the restoration of the church tower in 1738, the organ was dismantled and changes were made to its original design by another German, Kasper Müller. The musical instrument became much more powerful and was called the Water-Muller organ. Today, the Oudekerk hosts many concerts, ceremonies and other important events; in fact, the temple is the center of the religious and cultural life of Amsterdam
In the windows of houses directly opposite the church you can see girls legally providing intimate services. Also on the square in front of the temple there is a bronze relief depicting a hand caressing a breast. Who built it instead of a couple of stones directly into the pavement is still unknown
In March 2007, a bronze statue of Belle was erected here, near Oudekerk, in honor of prostitutes around the world Night view of the Old Church

Since we decided to touch the shrines of Amsterdam, it would be simply a sin to miss the oldest church in the city - the Oudekerk. The Oudekerk was built at the beginning of the 14th century on the site of an ancient wooden chapel. In 1306 the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Ulrecht.


During its existence, the appearance of the temple was constantly modified. The initially Gothic building gradually began to acquire Renaissance elements. What is noteworthy: the first modifications were carried out 50 years after construction. The next stage of change was in 1556, it was then that the Old Church suffered internal changes, which were caused by the iconoclast Calvinists, who deprived the church of all its splendor. Another important stage in the transformation of the church was in 1578, when the church was transformed into the Calvinist church, which it is today.


The temple also went through many changes. For example, in the 16th century it was plundered several times and destroyed in the most terrible way, so that even the unique altar did not survive. It is unique in that Maarten van Heemskerk and Jan van Scorel worked on its painting. Then only the painting on the church ceiling survived. In 1681, difficult times came for the church, as the entrance to it was blocked by a copper plate, on which was an inscription that the false faith was forever expelled from the holy church in 1578.


Today the church occupies an area of ​​3,300 square meters, and greets visitors as it did Rembrandt himself, who loved to walk here, and baptized his two sons here, moreover, buried his beloved wife here.


Nowadays, the temple is not only a religious place, but also a place where one can enjoy skillful organ music, as there are 3 organs installed here, namely: the old organ, dating back to 1658, the second, known as the “cabinet” organ, dating from 1767 , and finally the third, to the creation of which the German masters Vater had a hand in 1724.

I noted that fabulous Amsterdam offers entertainment for every taste: from the unbanal to the very piquant, and for connoisseurs of architecture and history there are numerous museums, historical sights and, of course, churches and cathedrals.

As we learned from the Internet, most churches in Amsterdam are Protestant and ancient, and this is due to the fact that during the Reformation, Protestantism gained the maximum number of supporters in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. By the way, in addition to the high number of Protestants in recent centuries, there are more than 40% of the total mass of agnostics (atheists), who influenced tolerance and freedom of morals (after all, they do not believe in the Lord and do not adhere to the commandments), and glorified the Kingdom as one of the most free-thinking countries due to their loyal attitude towards same-sex marriage, drug use, etc. Amsterdam has both a classic Catholic cathedral - a basilica, and an Orthodox parish. I will tell you in more detail about each of these architectural and historical monuments, and also provide up-to-date information about the possibility of free admission and ongoing events.

Church of St. Nicholas (Sint Nicolaaskerk)

The Secret Church in the Attic (Ons lieve heer op solder)

One of the most popular tourist attractions in my opinion is the Secret Church. It is located in the heart of the Red Light District and it seems to be one of the most unusual churches that I have seen in my life. It is called the Church of Our Beloved Lord in the Attic (address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38) and is also located in the middle of the Red Light District.

How did this church come about? Due to the persecution of Catholics during the Reformation in the 17th century, the Secret Church was literally hidden in a three-story residential building thanks to the efforts of a savvy merchant.

Now it is both a church and a museum. We were able to examine in detail the architecture of the building from the inside, the interior, as well as the life of the Dutch in the 16th century.

The museum has an audio guide (available in Russian, free of charge), and at the entrance they give out a pair of special slippers that will protect the rare floor from wear and tear by visitors’ feet. On Sunday there is a service and the church opens at 13.00, be careful! There is a separate entrance for parishioners. A visit to the museum-church will cost 10 EUR.

How to save money on visiting temples and cathedrals?

There are few profitable ways to visit churches with paid entrance, but they exist. Of course, I do not take into account personal acquaintance, because we take as a basis that you are a guest and a tourist in the city, like me. At the moment, I have opened and tested these two:


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I remember how on that sunny September morning I desperately wanted to go to church and repent of all my sins! But I didn’t know where exactly to go, and you have a unique opportunity to take advantage of my review and experience and choose in advance both a tourist attraction and a place for confession. In a city of sailors and revelers, where an atmosphere of general fun reigns, it is very important to find, if the soul so requires, a clean, unspoiled place, and the church will be such a place.

 

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