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Religion in Venice of North
By Rahul viz
The historic churches located in the Amsterdam city centre form the core of an important group of large historic buildings. The various churches of Amsterdam can be distinguished into three groups the medieval Gothic churches, 17th and 18th century Renaissance and Classicist churches and finally the 19th century churches built in what are commonly called revival styles.
What is so striking of Amsterdam churches that how large and empty they seem as compared to the Gothic cathedrals of France. In the beginning all of them were built as Catholic churches, later on all ornamentations and imagery was removed during the reformation.
The Oude Kerk or the Old Church was originally called Church of St. Nicholas. It is the oldest building in Amsterdam. The first church which was built on the site of the present Gothic building was erected circa 1300. Soon the necessity arose to build a second church. The Church of Our Lady or Nieuwe Kerk or New Church was designed as a branch church to the Oude Kerk. However, it was not long before the younger church surpassed its older forerunner. Apart from these two major churches there are many smallish Gothic chapels, some of them belonging to the Amsterdam convents (Engelse Kerk, Waalse Kerk). The medieval churches were by definition Roman Catholic churches named after saints. After the Reformation they were taken over by the Protestants, who soon suppressed all references to Catholic saints. The church of St. Nicholas became the Oude Kerk (Old Church); the church of Our Lady became the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and two chapels, originally devoted to St. Olof or St. Odulphus and the Miracle of Amsterdam were renamed the Oudezijds and Nieuwezijds chapels respectively.
The chaos brought about by the Reformation and the quarrel with the Catholic king of Spain resulted in Amsterdam becoming a Protestant city. In the end, only those who belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church were allowed freedom of worship. They were permitted to equip their churches with towers. All other religious denominations, with the exception of the influential Jewish community, were forced underground.
Religious gatherings of other religious groups were accepted on the condition that their buildings were not recognizable as churches from the outside. The Roman Catholics in town held Masses in so-called conventiclers, churches disguised as ordinary houses and equipped with collapsible altars and movable furniture. In this way the 'church' could be turned into a house at will. The best-known conventicler, which survives today and is now a museum, is Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder - Our Lord in the Attic.
Zuiderkerk or the South Church is an attractive 17th-century church, designed by Hendrick de Keyser. It is the first Protestant church in The Netherlands. The Zuiderkerk's tower ranks among the finest towers in Amsterdam and is nearly 262 feet high. Climbing to the top of the tower gives visitors a panoramic view over the city. No longer used as a church Zuiderkerk now houses an exhibition on town planning.
Westerkerk or West Church is another Protestant Church having a tower crowned by a blue orb and crown and gilded weathercock and rising to a height of 276 feet above the city. This magnificent 17th-century Renaissance church is one of the city's most important landmarks. It has the honor of the place where Queen Beatrix was married in 1966, and reputedly the site of Rembrandt's grave. One has to climb the steps of the tower to see the carillon, and marvel at the breathtaking views afforded over the Amsterdam skyline.
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