With the free audio tour, you will learn more about the rich history of the Oude Kerk. We wish you an inspiring visit!
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The church building reflects more than seven centuries of history. The Oude Kerk tells the story of Amsterdam's history. You discover art from different eras. From medieval stained glass windows in the Mary Chapel, to the Baroque Vater-Müller Organ, and from the paintings on the vaults to the red stained glass window by artist Giorgio Andreotta Calo from 2018. Come and experience the special interplay between ancient heritage and contemporary art.
An impressive emptiness
What strikes you when entering the Oude Kerk today is the impressive emptiness. Or as writer Milan Kundera wrote: "Through this gigantic hall has passed the Great March of history. In the church, only the high, bare, white walls, the columns, the vault, and the windows of the old Gothic style remained. The church has been cleared out like a gymnasium." The famous writer refers here to the Reformation, the major European church reform, which in 1566 led to uprisings in the Low Countries. Everywhere, church interiors fell victim to looting and destruction during this so-called Iconoclasm. After the Protestant takeover of the city government in 1578, the church interior was further simplified. Yet, traces of the Catholic past can still be found. For example, the remnants of paintings on the wooden vaults and the colourful stained glass windows in the Mary Chapel.
Old and new art
In the Oude Kerk, you find art and craftsmanship from various periods. Look up to the medieval paintings on the wooden vaults of the church, and look down: the floor is covered with tombstones. The grave of Saskia van Uylenburgh, Rembrandt's wife, can be found under the small choir organ on the side. In various places in the church, you'll see work by contemporary artists who engage with the building and its history. Visit the Holy Sepulchre with the red stained glass window (2018) by Giorgio Andreotta Calò and admire the pictorial light in the photographic work, #0095 [Inside] (2017), by Misha de Ridder.
On going restoration work
In the Oude Kerk restoration work is on going. You'll always find scaffolding somewhere. Currently, scaffolding has been erected in the east wall of the Mary Chapel to repair damage to the walls. The stained glass windows around those walls have been temporarily removed and restored for this reason. Read more about the history of the windows and the restoration process here. In 2022, the eighteenth century hand-painted wallpaper in the mirror room was restored. Read more about the restoration here. Since February 2023, the mirror room has been reopened to the public.
Support
Our programme is supported by the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts and the Mondriaan Fund.
