Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam)

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Nieuwe Kerk

The Nieuwe Kerk as seen from Dam Square
General information
Architectural style Gothic, neo-Gothic
Town or city Dam Square, Amsterdam
Country Netherlands
Coordinates 52°22′26″N 4°53′30″E / 52.3739°N 4.8917°E / 52.3739; 4.8917
Construction started c. 1385

The Nieuwe Kerk (Dutch: [ˈniʋə ˈkɛrk], New Church[1]) is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square, next to the Royal Palace.

Current uses

The church is in use by the Dutch royal family for investitures, most recently that of King Willem-Alexander in 2013, and weddings, most recently the wedding of Willem-Alexander to Máxima in 2002.[2] The investitures of Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Juliana of the Netherlands also took place there.[1]

The Nieuwe Kerk is no longer used for church services but is used as an exhibition space.[1] It is also used for organ recitals. There is a café in one of the buildings attached to the church that has an entrance to the church (during opening hours). There is a museum store inside the entrance that sells postcards, books, and gifts having to do with the church and its exhibitions.

Burial site

The Nieuwe Kerk is a burial site for Dutch naval heroes, including Admiral Michiel de Ruyter,[1] Commodore Jan van Galen, and Jan van Speyk. The poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel is also buried in the church.

History

After the Oude Kerk ("Old Church") grew too small for the expanding population of the town, the bishop of Utrecht in 1408 gave permission to build a second parish church. The Nieuwe Kerk was consecrated to St. Mary and St. Catharine.

The church was damaged by the city fires of 1421 and 1452 and burned down almost entirely in 1645, after which it was rebuilt in Gothic[1] style. It underwent major renovation in 1892–1914, which added many neo-Gothic details, and was again renovated in 1959–1980. It was the renovation in the 70's that became too expensive for the Dutch Reformed Church, and when they said the church would be closed most of the time to save money on maintenance, it was decided to transfer ownership in 1979 to a newly formed cultural organization called the Nationale Stichting De Nieuwe Kerk.

Gallery

  • Sun dial on West side

  • Original entrance (the former stained-glass window was bricked up when the organ was installed)

  • Houses built up against the church

  • Choir gate by Johannes Lutma

  • Detail of pulpit sounding board (from above)

  • Organ

  • Transept organ (Van Hagerbeer 1651/Flentrop 1989)

  • Stained-glass window of William IV of Orange awarding the coat of arms to Amsterdam in 1342

  • Stained-glass window

  • Michiel de Ruyter coffin under the monument

  • Panel presentation and discussion in front of Michiel de Ruyter memorial monument.

  • Michiel de Ruyter memorial (detail) by Rombout Verhulst

  • Coats of arms with the titles of the Dutch head of state

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Martin Dunford (2010). The Rough Guide to The Netherlands. Penguin. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-84836-882-8. 
  2. ↑ "Dutch prince marries his Maxima", BBC News, 2 February 2002

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