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The Old Church in Amsterdam grew from a small 13th-century chapel into a prominent monument. Consecrated in 1306 as Saint Nicholas Church, it later became known as the Old Church. The church played a key role during the Reformation, reflecting the shift from Catholic to Protestant worship. Throughout its history, over 60,000 people, including notable figures like Rembrandt’s wife Saskia, were buried there. Today, it remains an important historic and religious site.
Situated on a terp near where the Amstel river flows into the IJ, early settlers in the 13th century built a small chapel serving also as a cemetery. This modest structure eventually grew into one of Amsterdam’s most impressive monuments.
On September 17, 1306, the Bishop of Utrecht consecrated the church as the Saint Nicholas Church, named after the patron saint of sailors. As Amsterdam expanded and its population increased, a larger church was needed. In 1409, the Nieuwe Kerk was consecrated at Dam Square, and the original Saint Nicholas Church became known locally as the Old Church. Over the centuries, the church was expanded, including the addition of the Marian Chapel in 1552, which features stained glass windows.
The Old Church is a significant monument representing the Dutch and European Iconoclastic Fury (Beeldenstorm). Its cold interior reflects the tumultuous shift from Catholicism to Protestantism. During the Beeldenstorm of 1566 and the subsequent Alteration of Amsterdam on May 26, 1578, the Catholic city government was overthrown. The church underwent significant reforms: images and altars were removed, wall paintings were overpainted, and ceremonial silver was stolen or melted down. The inscription on the choir screen commemorates this revolutionary period, stating: “The abuse, introduced into God's church, has here been abolished in the year seventy-eight.” From that time onward, sermons were conducted in the vernacular, and Latin Masses were discontinued. Today, the Old Church still hosts Protestant services every Sunday morning.
Since the 13th century until 1865, around 60,000 people, including mayors, wealthy merchants, sailors, and artists, were buried here beneath over 2,000 gravestones. Among the most famous interments is that of Saskia Uylenburgh (1612–1642), Rembrandt’s first wife and muse.
