Oude Kerk Amsterdam

Oude Kerk is Amsterdam’s oldest surviving building, a medieval church in the heart of the Red Light District. Consecrated in 1306, it has grown from an early chapel into a Gothic church with a hand-painted wooden roof, stained-glass windows and a large organ. Look down at the tombstones set into the floor, including the grave of Saskia van Uylenburgh, Rembrandt’s wife. The church also hosts contemporary art exhibitions and concerts, bringing cultural events into a space shaped by centuries of worship and change.

A church that grew with Amsterdam

Oude Kerk stands on Oudekerksplein in the Red Light District. An early wooden chapel stood on the site before the present church took shape. The building was consecrated in 1306 as a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Nicholas, and it was expanded over the centuries as Amsterdam grew.

The church’s history reflects major changes in religious life in the city. During the Reformation, Protestants stripped away religious images and altered the interior. Oude Kerk became a Calvinist church, and its present-day character also includes exhibitions and concerts. The mix of old structure and contemporary art is part of what visitors encounter inside.

Look up, then down

The high interior draws the eye to the wooden roof and its painted decoration. The medieval timber vault is noted for its scale, while stained-glass windows bring colour and light into the church. The building has several organs; one prominent instrument dates to the 18th century.

The floor is made up of tombstones, with around 2,500 graves beneath the church. Saskia van Uylenburgh, Rembrandt’s wife, is buried here. Rembrandt was a regular visitor, and the church also holds the grave of Frans Banning Cocq, associated with the central figure in The Night Watch. Take time to notice the memorial stones as you move through the nave.