Amsterdam Old Church — Oude Kerk
The Oude Kerk is the oldest surviving building in Amsterdam and the city’s original parish church, founded around 1213 and consecrated in 1306. Located in the heart of De Wallen — Amsterdam’s historic red-light district — this Gothic church has lived through eight centuries of religious, cultural and urban transformation, converting from Catholic to Calvinist during the Reformation of 1578 and since 2012 serving also as a venue for contemporary art exhibitions. Its tower remains one of the defining landmarks of the Amsterdam skyline.
At a glance
- Type
- Reformed (Calvinist) church / heritage site / contemporary art venue
- Period
- Founded c. 1213; consecrated 1306; expanded through the 15th and 16th centuries
- Style
- Gothic
- Location
- Oudekerksplein 23, 1012 GX Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Coordinates
- 52.3744° N, 4.8960° E
Overview
The Oude Kerk stands on the Oudekerksplein in De Wallen, originally a small fishing community on the Amstel river. As Amsterdam grew from a modest trading post to one of the wealthiest cities in the world, the church expanded in parallel — its nave extended, side chapels added, and tower heightened across successive building campaigns. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of sailors and merchants, reflecting the maritime identity of early Amsterdam.
History
The church was consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht on the site of an earlier wooden chapel. Over the following two centuries it was rebuilt in stone, expanded with side aisles and chapels, and furnished with an elaborate carved choir and stained glass. In 1578, during Amsterdam’s shift from Spanish Habsburg rule to the Protestant Republic — the “Alteration” — the church became Reformed and was stripped of its Catholic furnishings and imagery. Despite this iconoclasm, significant medieval fabric survived, and the building continued to serve as Amsterdam’s principal civic church throughout the Golden Age.
What you see
The interior is remarkable for the survival of three sets of medieval stained glass windows despite Reformation-era removals, as well as a finely carved wooden choir vault and historic floor tombstones — including that of Rembrandt’s wife Saskia van Uylenburgh. The church tower, accessible by guided tour, offers panoramic views across the medieval city fabric. Since 2012 the nave has hosted international contemporary art exhibitions curated by Openbare Werken, creating a charged dialogue between ancient architecture and modern practice.
Cultural significance
As Amsterdam’s oldest building and its original parish church, the Oude Kerk is the physical foundation of the city’s identity. Its location at the geographical and symbolic heart of De Wallen — a neighbourhood whose history encompasses commerce, religion and the oldest profession — makes it one of the most complex and thought-provoking heritage sites in northern Europe. It is a national monument and one of Amsterdam’s most visited cultural landmarks.
Practical information
- Address
- Oudekerksplein 23, 1012 GX Amsterdam
- Opening hours
- Check official website for current schedule
- Admission
- Check official website for current prices
- Website
- oudekerk.nl
Getting there
The Oude Kerk is a 15-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal station through the historic city centre. Trams 4, 14 and 24 stop on Damrak or Nieuwendijk, from where the church is a short walk. The square is pedestrianised and best explored on foot; bicycle parking is available in the surrounding streets.