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Begijnhof
Gedempte Begijnensloot, Amsterdam, Netherlands · +31 20 623 3565
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OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Secreted away in the midst of the city is this enclosed courtyard, ringed by a series of white-trimmed, brick dwellings. The peaceful enclave was, in former centuries, home to a community of religious women (although not nuns) who supported the church with their charitable endeavors. This cluster of buildings was their domain, the area from which they provided succor and devoted their lives from the 14th century until 1971, when the last of the order expired. The secluded area offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect, to pause, and to take in the area's history. Of particular note are the four panels on the pulpit of the church designed by a young Mondriaan, as well as the city's oldest wooden house (dating from 1477) at No. 34. And don't miss the 'other' church - a covert Catholic place of worship which is cleverly concealed behind the façade of a house here.
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OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Also known as Museum Amstelkring, this fascinating sanctuary dates from a period when only the Dutch Reformed Church was permitted to hold public services. Practitioners of other religions were forced to gather secretly in privately owned buildings throughout the city. This 17th-century merchant's home was a haven for Catholics of the era. Its attic was transformed into a church and came to feature a pipe organ and a beautiful baroque altar and details. The church, which still holds occasional services, is, curiously to some, located in the Red Light District.
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Nieuwe Kerk
Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace, Amsterdam, Netherlands · +31 20 638 6990
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OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Equated with England's Westminster Abbey since Dutch monarchs are inaugurated here, the Nieuwe Kerk had its foundations laid in the 14th century. Built as a Catholic sanctuary, it survived the nation's change to Protestantism, although it lost much of its original decoration. Even so, subsequent building efforts provided the church with beautiful ornamentation, including an amazing pulpit, intricate woodcarvings, stained glass windows, detailed altar, and a venerable pipe organ. These days, however, its use is of a more cultural nature: throughout the year it stages impressive large-scale exhibitions viewed by thousands of folk. Admission may vary for exhibitions.
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Noorderkerk
Noordermarkt 48, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1015 NA · +31 20 626 6436
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WESTERN CANAL RING / JORDAAN. Designed by Hendrick de Keyser and constructed in the early 1620s, this church boasts a geometrical sensibility consistent with the era's humanist ideology. Its form is of a Greek cross, with four equidistant arms. The sanctuary, still used by the Protestant congregation, features large Tuscan pillars and a barrel-vaulted ceiling. At the juncture of the arms, a small tower crowns the exterior of the church and was executed by Hendrick Jacobsz Staets, town carpenter at the time. Concerts take place every Saturday at 2pm from mid-September to mid-June (bar Christmas), plus there are occasional evening concerts. More info from +31 20 620 3119 or www.noorderkerkconcerten.nl
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Oude Kerk
Oudekerksplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1012 GX · +31 20 625 8284
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OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Amsterdam's oldest building, this imposing Dutch Brick Gothic church was begun in the late 13th century. In its early days, before the Nieuwe Kerk was built, it was the center of the city's religious life. Among its claims to fame are its spectacular Vater-Müller organ and its small chapels. It's also where Rembrandt registered to marry his wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh (who is also buried here). Most of the furnishings in the church date to the late 16th century, after Protestantism became the official religion and the structure's original Catholic trappings were removed. Stone slabs in the floor mark the resting places of some of Amsterdam's past elite.
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OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. This synagogue, completed in 1675, was designed by Elias Bouwman and took Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon as its inspiration. The structure was a refuge long hoped-for by its congregation, descendants of 15th-century Spanish (or Sephardic) Jews who fled to Portugal to escape religious persecution. These people were later forced to become Christians, and their descendants eventually moved to tolerant Amsterdam, which was at war with Spain, in hopes of living freely as Jews. To downplay their connection to the enemy (and their native land), they called themselves 'Portuguese.' The synagogue is notable, now as then, for its brass chandeliers, architectural detailing, and exterior wooden piles, which provide a firm foundation in Amsterdam's shifting, sandy soil.
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Westerkerk
Prinsengracht 281, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1016 GW · +31 20 624 7766
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WESTERN CANAL RING / JORDAAN. Completed in 1631, this church was designed by Hendrick de Keyser and boasts the city's tallest tower. The Protestant church also serves as a city symbol and is where Rembrandt was buried in 1669 and Queen Beatrix married in 1966. Inside, light floods the sanctuary from clerestory windows, illuminating the pale arcades and barrel-vaulted ceilings. A beautifully detailed organ, first installed in 1686, serves as a focal point. The attached tower offers fantastic views of the city and is worth the climb (tours are every 30 minutes).
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Zuiderkerk
Zuiderkerkhof 72, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1011 WB · +31 20 685 2565
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OLD CENTER / RED LIGHT DISTRICT. Designed by city architect Hendrick de Keyser (as were many churches of this period), the Zuiderkerk was completed in 1611. The ornate tower of Amsterdam's first Protestant church was finished in 1614. De Keyser himself was buried in the church in 1621, and the sanctuary served as a holding place for the numerous bodies of those who didn't survive the winter of 1944-1945. Following degradation of the church in 1970, it was given major renovations and deconsecrated. Nowadays, the structure holds offices for city housing and planning. Its tower provides great views of the area – although navigating the steep steps to its top is not for the faint-hearted! Tours of the tower last 30 minutes and are limited to 15; groups are advised to reserve ahead. (Tours available Apr - Sep, Mon - Sat; every 30 minutes, noon-3:30pm.)
Interested in places that bear a significant connection to spirituality? Look over our list of Religious Sites, some of which also have historical import. Among the offerings are places of worship and sites that commemorate religious events or people.
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