★★★★★ 5.0
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The New Church
Fifteen years. That's how long it took master craftsmen to carve the ornate mahogany pulpit that dominates the interior of this Gothic marvel rising before you on Dam Square. Standing here at the Nieuwe Kerk, you're looking at Amsterdam's royal church... where every Dutch monarch since 1815 has been crowned, including King Willem-Alexander just over a decade ago in 2013. But here's what most visitors never notice as they admire the soaring Gothic facade... this "New" Church from 1408 was built on a simple orchard donated by a generous citizen named Willem Eggert. The bishop of Utrecht had declared Amsterdam's population too large for just one church, and so this magnificent structure rose from apple trees to become the stage for royal weddings, state ceremonies, and the final resting place of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, the naval hero who defeated the English fleet. The most ambitious secret lies buried beneath your feet... in 1645, Amsterdam's mayors planned to build the tallest church tower in all the Dutch Republic right here, but after years of foundation work that required damming the canal itself, the dream was abandoned. Today, the church serves not as a house of worship, but as an exhibition space where contemporary art mingles with centuries of royal tradition, and those stunning stained glass windows still depict Queen Wilhelmina's coronation from 1890, frozen forever in colored light.
Did You Know?
- De Nieuwe Kerk, despite its name meaning 'New Church,' is actually over 600 years old—construction began in 1408 and it was consecrated in 1409, making it a medieval landmark in the heart of Amsterdam. The name simply distinguishes it from the even older Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest building.
- While it started as a Catholic church, De Nieuwe Kerk became a Dutch Reformed Church in 1578 during the Protestant Reformation, and today it is no longer used for regular church services but instead serves as a world-class exhibition space and a venue for royal ceremonies—including the 2013 inauguration of King Willem-Alexander and his 2002 wedding to Queen Máxima.
- De Nieuwe Kerk is home to one of the largest historic organs in the Netherlands, a masterpiece brass choir screen, and the impressive tomb of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, a national hero. Despite surviving devastating fires in 1421 and 1645, its Gothic grandeur, including stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings, remains a highlight for visitors.