{"id":36721,"date":"2025-01-19T15:48:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-19T15:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/amsterdam\/where-amsterdam-worships-unclogged-in-amsterdam\/"},"modified":"2025-01-19T15:48:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-19T15:48:26","slug":"where-amsterdam-worships-unclogged-in-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=36721","title":{"rendered":"Where Amsterdam Worships – UnClogged in Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Iconic Churches, Temples and Mosques Reveal a Turbulent Past<\/h4>\n

Amsterdam\u2019s reputation as a party city fueled by sex, drugs \u2018n\u2019 rock & roll might lead the casual observer to believe its inhabitants worship the devil. Yet the Dutch capital\u2019s iconic churches, temples and mosques tell a different story\u2014one that reveals a long history of religious conviction, strife and pragmatic tolerance.<\/p>\n

For centuries, the Netherlands has been a haven for rebels and free thinkers, many fleeing religious persecution. Dutchies who rose up against the Catholic Church in the Eighty Years\u2019 War (1568\u20131648) were part of a revolt led by William of Orange that won the Netherlands independence from Spain. In the new Dutch Republic, most of the north and west of the country allied with Calvinism (a branch of Protestantism), while the southeast remained predominantly Catholic.<\/p>\n

Dutch Pragmatic Tolerance<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The religious split posed a challenge for the new Protestant monarch. In a move that laid a foundation for pragmatic tolerance in the Netherlands, William of Orange embraced the spirit of \u201clive and let live.\u201d He granted the Catholic minority freedom to practice their faith as they saw fit\u2014no mean feat given the hatred between Catholics and Protestants at the end of the Eighty Years\u2019 War.<\/p>\n

Despite the King\u2019s mandate, the Protestant majority in the Netherlands continued to perceive Catholics as enemies after the war against Spain and the Reformation. Yet they joined their monarch in tolerating their Catholic neighbors, turning a blind eye to the practice of Catholicism in hidden churches throughout cities like Amsterdam. <\/p>\n

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After the Reformation, Protestant Dutchies tolerated the practice of Catholicism in hidden churches like Ons\u2019 Lieve Heer op Solder in Amsterdam. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Guided by pragmatism as much as high principles, Dutchies recognized that peaceful coexistence was preferable to conflict given that foreigners, regardless of their religion, were a boon for the economy.<\/p>\n

In the 17th<\/sup> century, the Netherlands was the only country that guaranteed religious freedom under the law, resulting in an influx of refugees from many backgrounds. To manage the diversity, politicians applied negotiation lessons introduced by Dutch merchants. They embraced the principles of pragmatic tolerance: nobody owns the truth and what is true must be agreed upon by all. When people can\u2019t agree, they can still \u201clive and let live\u201d in peaceful coexistence. Thus began a long legacy of pragmatic tolerance in a nation that has led the way in legalizing gay marriage, marijuana and prostitution. <\/p>\n

Immigration<\/strong> After World War II<\/h4>\n

After World War II, numerous waves of immigration continued to bring new faiths to the Netherlands. Drawn by the promise of religious tolerance, thousands of refugees from other parts of Europe, as well as former colonies like Indonesia and Suriname, found new homes in Amsterdam in the mid-20th<\/sup> century. To rebuild the country and augment a labor force depleted by war, both private companies and the Dutch government began hiring workers from Spain, Italy, Turkey and Morocco.<\/p>\n

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Turkish bakeries like Bakkerij Dunya in Amsterdam\u2019s Oud-West are evidence of post-war immigration that has changed the fabric of Dutch life. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

By the mid-1960s, the Dutch economy was booming again, but the cultural landscape had changed. As guest workers brought their families to the Netherlands, their diverse faiths became woven into the fabric of Dutch life. Well into the 21st<\/sup> century, asylum seekers from Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, and other troubled parts of the world have contributed to Amsterdam\u2019s continually changing spiritual landscape and multicultural makeup.<\/p>\n

Despite the diversity of its people, the Netherlands has become one of the most non-religious countries in the western world. While echoes of Calvinism still reverberate in daily life, more Dutchies now identify as non-religious than as Christians\u2014which may be one reason many places of worship have been transformed into concert venues, museums, and nightclubs like Amsterdam\u2019s world-renowned Paradiso.<\/p>\n

Eight Iconic Places of Worship<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Those churches, temples and mosques that are still intact are reminders of Amsterdam\u2019s turbulent past, as well as its contemporary patchwork of faiths. The most iconic include these eight historic venues where locals, as well as visitors, can still worship.<\/p>\n

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1. The Old Church<\/a><\/strong> (De Oude Kerk<\/em>). Amsterdam\u2019s oldest church towers over the city\u2019s infamous De Wallen <\/em>neighborhood. Ringed by bars, coffeeshops, red-lit windows, and the Princess Juliana Nursery School, the massive stone edifice served local Catholics until the Reformation, when Dutch Calvinists overthrew Papal control and ransacked its interior.<\/p>\n

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Surrounded by brothels, bars, coffeeshops, and a nursery school, Amsterdam\u2019s oldest church towers over the infamous Red Light District. Originally built in the 13th<\/sup> century as a Catholic church, de Oude Kerk became one of the buildings expressing the national character of Dutch Protestantism after the Reformation.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Originally constructed in 1213, de Oude Kerk<\/em> has been renovated several times over its long history. While still a place of worship, it\u2019s also used for organ concerts, award ceremonies and exhibitions. Despite the turmoil it\u2019s witnessed over the years, the church has remained mostly intact since the 17th<\/sup> century. Beyond its simple facade, a somber interior still features many age-old elements, including a vaulted wooden ceiling dating back to the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n

2. The New Church<\/a> <\/strong>(De Nieuwe Kerk)<\/em>. By the 14th<\/sup> century, Amsterdam had outgrown the Old Church. To serve the spiritual needs of the city\u2019s growing population, the bishop of Utrecht granted permission for a new church on Dam Square, adjacent to the Royal Palace\u2014an ideal setting for coronations and other state ceremonies. <\/p>\n

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The 16th-century Nieuwe Kerk is the Netherlands\u2019 most important\u00a0church. In 2002, it was the stage for the wedding of King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Consecrated in 1409, de Nieuwe Kerk<\/em> was originally built in early Renaissance style, with an elaborate altar, arched nave and impressive pipe organ. While it escaped major damage in two 15th<\/sup>-century fires, it was reduced to ashes when plumbers accidentally started a blaze in 1654.<\/p>\n

Rebuilt in a style inspired by French Gothic churches, de Nieuwe Kerk<\/em> now features an ornate pulpit, the Netherlands\u2019 largest organ, a grand brass choir screen, and magnificent stained glass windows. Hundreds of grave slabs on its floor mark the final resting place of some 10,000 souls, including distinguished Dutch admiral Michiel De Ruyter, who managed to free 26 Hungarian slaves in the 17th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

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Since 1814, the New Church has hosted all Dutch coronations, including the crowning of reigning King Willem Alexander in 2013. Today, it\u2019s also used for organ concerts and exhibitions like World Press Photo\u2019s yearly expo.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

3. The English Reformed Church<\/a>. <\/strong>Tucked on the serene grounds of the Begijnhof off bustling Spuiplein, this small chapel was built in the 14th<\/sup> century for the Begijntjes, a Catholic sisterhood of women who lived like nuns although they took no monastic vows. It\u2019s now one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

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Amsterdam\u2019s English Reformed Church is affiliated with the\u00a0Church\u00a0of Scotland and the Dutch Protestant\u00a0Church. Sunday services are conducted in English at 10.30am.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

When Catholicism was banned in the Netherlands in the 16th<\/sup> century, the Dutch government confiscated the humble English Reformed Church and gave it to Amsterdam\u2019s English-speaking Protestants as a place of worship. Its weekly rituals continue to this day for Amsterdam\u2019s English-speaking congregation. <\/p>\n

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In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II visited the little English Reformed Church on the grounds of the Begijnhof<\/em> to honor its 400th<\/sup> anniversary.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

4. The Western Church<\/a><\/strong> (De Westerkerk<\/em>). The Netherlands\u2019 largest Protestant church opened its doors on the Prinsengracht in 1631. Built in Dutch Renaissance style in the form of two interconnected Greek crosses, its 85-meter bell tower dominates the skyline of the neighboring Jordaan. From April\u2013October, you can climb a spiral staircase and steep steps for a jaw-dropping view of modern Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

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Visitors can worship with locals every Sunday at 10am at de Westerkerk. Year-end holiday services (in Dutch) are especially popular. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Rembrandt is buried in de Westerkerk<\/em>, as are several other famous Dutch artists. In 1966, former Queen Beatrix married German diplomat Claus von Amsberg in its spectacular chapel. Today, it\u2019s still used for religious services, as well as a summer concert series.<\/p>\n

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During World War II, the chimes of the Westertoren (Western Tower) soothed Amsterdam\u2019s most famous diarist in her nearby attic hideout.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

5. The Portuguese Synagogue<\/a><\/strong>. During the 16th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> centuries, thousands of Jews fled Spain and Portugal to escape the Inquisition. In Amsterdam, they found religious tolerance<\/a> unheard of elsewhere in Europe. Since the Dutch government allowed them to practice their religion openly, these Sephardic Jews vowed to construct an enormous temple in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n

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Like most 17th<\/sup>-century structures, the Portuguese Synagogue has no electricity or central heating. Dress accordingly if you attend candlelit services in winter. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Inspired by Jerusalem\u2019s Temple of Solomon, the Portuguese Synagogue welcomed its first congregants in 1675. Miraculously spared during World War II, it now houses the world\u2019s oldest functioning Jewish library, recognized on UNESCO\u2019s World Heritage List. During religious services and candlelight concerts, hundreds of candles and numerous enormous brass chandeliers illuminate a perfectly intact 17th<\/sup>-century interior.<\/p>\n

6. Our Lord in The Attic<\/a> <\/strong>(Ons\u2019 Lieve Heer op Solder)<\/em>. After the newly converted Protestant Dutch government outlawed Catholicism in the 17th<\/sup> century, believers were forced to worship in secret. As a result, hidden Catholic churches popped up throughout Amsterdam, including this gorgeous chapel on the outskirts of the Red Light District, just north of the Old Church.<\/p>\n

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Steep stairs lead to the apex of<\/em> a massive, 17th<\/sup>-century canal house, where Ons\u2019 Lieve Heer op Solder still exists as the best example of a hidden Catholic church in post-Reformation Amsterdam.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Tucked in the attic of a restored 17th<\/sup>-century canal mansion, Ons\u2019 Lieve Heer op Solder<\/em> has <\/em>miraculously survived the ages and is now one of Amsterdam\u2019s oldest museums. Originally converted into a secret church by a wealthy merchant whose son was studying to enter the priesthood, it was used for worship from 1663 to 1887. Today it serves as a window into Amsterdam\u2019s turbulent past, as well as a site for weddings and special receptions.<\/p>\n

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