Oude Kerk Amsterdam

I love visiting churches and really wanted to visit this one but it was quite disappointing. €13,50 for an almost empty church is in my opinion really expensive. The stained glass windows were very beautiful and, together with the ceiling, the best thing about the church. I wanted to go there for the historic significance but I felt like they could do more to tell us about it, definitely for the price that you're paying.

Fantastic church to visit, friendly staff at entrance and a cool little audio guide which taps on various wall points to tell you more. The restoration work on two stained glass windows is almost complete so you can climb the scaffolding to get up close and also enjoy a view from on high, but if you're scared of heights there is also one on ground level to see. We didn't book in advance and had no wait.

The most ancient building in this incredible city. A severe, exquisite Protestant Church. Here lies beautiful Saskia, Rembrandt’s wife, model & Muse.

Visiting De Oude Kerk was truly a special experience during my time in Amsterdam. Located right in the heart of the city, it’s one of the oldest and most beautiful buildings you can explore — and it carries a quiet, powerful sense of history the moment you step inside. The architecture is absolutely stunning, with its high vaulted ceilings, aged wooden details, and colorful stained-glass windows. It’s amazing to think about how many centuries this place has stood, witnessing so much change around it. There’s a calm and peaceful atmosphere inside, even though it's located in one of the busiest areas of Amsterdam. What I loved most was how the church blends history with modern art installations. Some of the contemporary art exhibitions added depth to the visit and made the space feel alive and relevant, not just a historical monument. The staff were kind, informative, and clearly passionate about sharing the history of the church. It’s definitely worth spending some time just walking around, reading the plaques, and absorbing the quiet beauty of the space. Whether you’re into architecture, history, or just looking for a peaceful break from the city noise, De Oude Kerk is a must-visit. A truly memorable part of my trip!

The oldest building and church in Amsterdam. Staff are very helpful once you get in and buy your ticket providing insight as to the experience you’ll get in any of the options available. If you’re like me and you love climbing up and seeing an aerial view of any cities you find yourself in, the guided tower experience is such a great deal as you also are given stories about the church and the city. It’s such an insightful experience along with the added art installation at the time I went for a visit. The audio guide is also a great addition to the experience as you learn more of the church throughout history with the remaining available displays and infrastructure.

Really beautiful part of Amsterdam history. The hand painted wallpaper, especially it’s beautiful. And all the significant headstones including Rembrandt‘s first wife.

Beautiful old church with a wonderful organ and some interesting carvings. The art exhibit there during our visit was not for me or anyone in our group.

The church is the oldest building in Amsterdam. Everything else has burnt down during various city fires. Originally built as a chapel, it was later enlarged to become St. Nicolas church, now known commonly as Oude Kerk (Old Church). Since the time of the Reformation, the interior has been in the style of Protestant simplicity, a result of the forceful "protestantization" of the 16th century. The wooden vaults, the organ, and the choir screen are sights to behold. Currently, a full restoration of beautiful leaded glass windows is being undertaken.

Yelp Review 2023 #94: Located in the Red Light District is Amsterdam's oldest building with a long history that has nothing to do with prostitution whatsoever. Starting in the 1200's when this church was built for Catholics. It became a Protestant church in the 1500's when the Dutch were no longer fans of the Catholic Church and switched teams. It became as an archive center. Under the floors of this building is a graveyard. And now, it's an art center. The tickets are about €14 for adults and cheaper for children depending on their age, and students. It's open from 10am-6pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and 1pm-5pm on Sundays. Check their website for most current information. Outside the building you'll see bronze sculptures: a breastplate sculpture, and Belle the Sex Worker. Keep your eyes on the ground and around so you don't miss them.

This Gothic church is located in the Red Light District and surrounded by brothels, but that's Amsterdam in a nutshell. Consecrated in 1306, Oude Kerk is the oldest surviving building in the city. The artist Rembrandt was a regular visitor & his children were christened here. There are many typical medieval church trappings; vaulted ceilings, centuries-old paintings, ancient gravestones embedded in the floor, the building officially was designated as a museum in 2016. It hosts two site-specific exhibitions annually, featuring top international contemporary artists. It's a great place for a moment of quiet reflection from the overwhelmingly seediness of the Red Light District.

Huge old cathedral in Amsterdam in the red light distract. It's mostly empty but a beautiful building and worth a quick look at for any visitors.

This church is epic! Massive, gorgeous ceilings. So glad we popped in, though the map and audio guides weren't the best. It was still interesting to walk around one of the oldest structures in Amsterdam. I'd imagine it's a wonderful place to catch a concert but we were there on a weekday, midday, so just enjoyed the building itself.

Again, this is something you should make time for, particularly if you have the Museumkaart. With the card, admission is free. The church is, of course, beautiful. You'll be able to appreciate the masonry and grand organ as you walk around. And, make sure you head over to the far side of the church to pay your respects to Saskia, Rembrandt's wife. Her stone is well marked and easy to find. When I visited they had an interesting exhibit about the end of relationships. People had submitted letters, items, photos and a letter describing their love affair, and how it ended. It was surprisingly interesting, and sometimes moving. I've read through the other reviews here, and they mention fashion exhibits, etc. So, it seems no matter when you go, you'll have something to look at in addition to another grand organ.

One of my favorite stops in Amsterdam! De Oude Kerk ("the old church") is the oldest building and church in Amsterdam. And it's stunning. And very worth the entrance fee to explore the gorgeous interior of the church.

This was one of the highlights of my recent trip to Amsterdam. I love how simple and modest it is compared to many of the churches I have been to from the same time period. It is almost as if the reported Dutch modesty and lack of showiness has manifested itself in this quietly decorated place of worship. Besides for being able to have a nice visit with Rembrandt's Saskia, the highlight of my visit was the getting a private little tour of the prayer booths from the man who treats them with bees wax. He took time to show my friend and me around, pointing out all of the proverbs depicted on the seats, and how they related to Dutch life in the 15-17th centuries. Totally awesome!

For the first church started in Amsterdam it's in great condition inside and out. Like many churches in Amsterdam it's no longer used for religious services but mainly for exhibitions or special events. Regardless, it's architecture is notable and inner features are quite beautiful. It's interior and exterior are massive. Owing to Dutch attitudes towards tolerance it sits inside the Red Light District with more than a few windows of the Red Light District facing the back wall of the church. In addition there is now a small courtyard on the outside of the church where you can lounge and get coffee, tea and desserts.

Yeah for old building and fabulously interesting architect! It is at the edge of the red light district, near a canal, and nearly centrally located. The internal of the church has huge ceilings, an amazing organ, it's nice to just be able to walk around and enjoy it! Note: there is a fee to enter the church. But the museum card does get you in Note2: they do have many random art exhibits. During our visit it was a "Museum of Broken relationship" pretty creepy and weirdly voyeuristic view into people's personal lives and failed relationships!

Not quite sure what to make of this place. Several friends of ours said we should stop by while walking around the Red Light District. We were underwhelmed compared with other European churches we have visited, and found it to be a very strange place. For some reason, the church was having an unexplained fashion/art exhibit. It was strange to say the least, it included what we think was a snake skin dress in a glass case, among other things. There is some beautiful stained glass and a very intricate organ, but not really worth the 5 Euro admission fee.

Pretty church that is used a bit today. Some interesting things like stairway to heaven and wooden clad ceilings.

Do the tower. (Entrance is in a different place vs. the church entrance). The church is part of history and should visited, but the tower the "must see." It's a serious climb. The stairs are sometimes more like ladders. You even need to "back down" on certain of them. You pass by a carillon and bell system. But, at the top you look out over all of old Amsterdam from the highest point in the city.

A total waste of money. The windows had been covered in red plastic as a part of an "art" project which made it very difficult to see anything inside. You couldn't see any of the stain glass windows or the interior artwork. Check if this so called art project is on before you pay anything to go inside.

This building is Amsterdam's oldest and it is the oldest parish church, consecrated in 1306. If you are a history nut, a visit to Amsterdam is not complete without seeing this building. Rembrandt's family used to visit here, and would be the only original building remaining from his time in Amsterdam. The church on the inside feels like a hallowed out shell. The roof, floor, and stained glass windows are original and breath taking. The floor is is made up of 10,000+ graves. So it feels a bit weird as you are walking through and around. When we were there we had to pay an entrance fee because there was some exhibit going on. The exhibit I found was distracting and I think I would have enjoyed the church much more if it wasn't for the presence of the exhibit. The exhibit was highlighting great works of photo journalism from this past year. The photos were quite graphic in nature in showing photos from world catastrophes and wars. Definitely worth a quick visit to see a piece of history left standing.

The entrance fee is too high. You wont see so many figures and the chapels are almost empty - no figures or paintings...

Under construction and had a weird AV art exhibit in it. Just ok. Not really worth 10e unless you have a museum pass and it includes this.

As an atheist, you wouldn't think churches would be at the top of my list when visiting Europe, but they almost always are no matter where I go. The architecture and history and feel inside old churches... I can't quite describe it. In Amsterdam, we visited the Nieuwe Kerk first, and it's hard to really capture the feeling there since it's been converted into a museum - there's not really a great vantage point where you can stand back and take it all in. I was so glad I got that opportunity in the Oude Kerk. Despite being in the middle of some excavation/renovations, it is beautiful inside and with plenty of room to stand back and drink all of it in. It's hard not to imagine how people back in the 14th century must have felt when it's still so breathtaking today. I especially loved the carved floors (although watch out when you're walking - I almost twisted an ankle accidentally stepping on an uneven carving) and exploring what the earliest date was I could find. It seemed a bit incongruous in the middle of the red light district, but hey - there was a guy in there drawing pictures of prostitutes, so at least they've embraced where the church is today!