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Religious Sites in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is bursting with religious sites from a diverse cross section of religions. The Westerkerk designed in the Renaissance-style is home to the remains of Rembrandt and his son, Titus and is also the place where the King and Queen of the Netherlands were married in 1966. The initial designer was Hendrick de Keyser, whose son Pieter took over after his father's death in 1621. The Begijnhof Church is another site well worth a visit. It consists of tiny houses grouped together in a well-kept courtyard. It was originally built in the 14th Century as a convent for the Begijntes who were unmarried or widowed Catholic women. House number 34 is the most famous as it is the oldest house in Amsterdam, dating back to 1465. The oldest church in the city is the Oude Kerk built in 1306 in what is now known as the red-light district. Other notable sites are the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk, the Medieval Sint Olofskapel and the Agnietenkapel.
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Oudekerk
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Address: Oudekerkplein 33
Phone: +31 20 625 8284
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Website: http://www.oudekerk.nl
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Amsterdam's oldest still-existing church, De Oude Kerk was erected in the early 14th Century in the Dutch brick Gothic style. Highlights of this mass tourist attraction are the 18th-century organ, the floor-embedded tombstones of long-forgotten mariners and the various commemorative plaques on the walls which form mosaic-like patterns. Apart from the lavish statuary and the well-preserved stained glass, one can admire the structure of the building itself. De Oude Kerk is an excellent example of a transition from a single-aisled church to a basilica. Currently a tourist magnet, De Oude Kerk has its share in cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and even formal receptions.
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Nieuwe Kerk
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Address: Dam
Phone: +31 20 638 6909
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Website: http://www.nieuwekerk.nl
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While set in the immediate vicinity of the Palace, this church displays a splendour and exuberance quite different from those of its royal counterpart. Erected in the 15th Century, it had remained remarkably intact until the 19th Century, when a major fire caused it to burn to the ground. Its stone-by-stone restoration took place in the same era, re-erecting the Renaissance edifice from scratch. The New Church, as it literally translates from Dutch, has been the place where nobles married and monarchs were produced to power. Apart from its tumultuous history, the outstanding interior itself is a sufficient reason for a visit. The well-known Catholic features, including a 17th-century organ, floor-engraved tomb stones and elaborate stained glass, are all exemplary works of art. Although the church lost its frescoes when it was handed over to a Protestant parish, it retained its carved altar.
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Zuidekerk
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Address: Zuiderkerkhof 72
Phone: +31 20 622 2962
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Website: http://www.zuiderkerk.amsterdam.nl
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A 17th-century Protestant structure, this site was erected in the period 1603-11. The architect, Hendrick de Keyser, a representative of the Dutch Golden Age, took the greatest efforts to create a most flamboyant and grandiose structure. Being among the first Renaissance edifices of the city, Zuidekerk also happened to be its very first Protestant church. Currently, the site has lost on religious significance: rather than attracting a large congregation, it mostly holds exhibitions on architectural projects. Still, a view from the church tower is well-worth a visit, with the upward climb opening up a plethora of building details, such as columns, balustrades, window fragments, etc.
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English Reformed Church
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Address: Begijnhof 48
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Being a well-established Amsterdam institution, the English Reformed Church, residing in the very core of the city, has been a long-time home of the local Protestant English-speaking congregation. Also known as the Scots Kirk, it has, as its name suggests, attracted a large Scottish lot of worshippers. The 14th-century Begijnhof encloses the church and makes it practically unnoticeable from the street. It was handed over to the Protestants in the early 17th Century, when the Catholic Beguine community, which formerly occupied Begijnhof, lost it to the city.
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Begijnhof Kerk (Engelse Kerk)
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Address: Begijnhof 35
Phone: +31 20 624 9665
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Set in the Beguine Court, this 14th-century structure displays several noteworthy architectural details. Formerly a convent for Beguines sisters, an Amsterdam-based Catholic order for single women, the court itself is an awe-inspiring place. The order, started by women who had lost their husbands during the Crusades, was active until the latter part of the 20th Century. Here, unmarried women or widows could live in seclusion for a certain period without taking any religious vows. The neighbouring house at Number 34 happens to be the city's oldest remaining wooden structure.
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Sint Olofskapel
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Address: Prins Hendrikkade 59-72
Phone: +31 20 556 4564
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An early version of the Sint Olofskapel already existed in the mid-15th Century. Dedicated to Saint Odulphus, a historic figure, believed to have originated from the province of Brabant, this chapel was substantially remodelled during the 20th Century, The site, being linked through a subterranean tunnel with the Golden Tulip Barbizon Hotel, is currently used as the hotel's conference room.
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Waalse Kerk
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Address: Walenpleintje 159
Phone: +31 20 623 2074
e-mail: info@waalsekerk-amsterdam.nl
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Website: http://www.waalsekerk-amsterdam.nl/
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Also known as Walloon Church, this 15th-century structure started off as a mere chapel, and was not converted into a wholesome church until the late 16th Century. Having been conceived as a Protestant structure, it served the needs of a small congregation, mostly comprised of French immigrants. The site is still a bastion of sorts to the local Walloon Community, and thus, regularly holds an extensive service in the French language. Among the site's highlights, one can mention its well-known organ. Concerts are held here on a regular basis.
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Westerkerk
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Address: Prinsengracht 279-281
Phone: +31 20 624 7766
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Website: http://www.westerkerk.nl/
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This church, most probably thanks to the Westerkerk Tower, is most often associated with the city of Amsterdam. Well-represented on postcards, mugs and other types of tourist paraphernalia, the church has become a signature landmark. Construction work on Westerkerk began in 1620, and from its earliest days, it was thought up as a large-scale building, which was to gather the congregation of the ring of canals, the city's most representative area. Still an impressive site to visit, it has nevertheless, lost its foremost importance to the area.
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