Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

Churches ❮❮ 55

Engelse Kerk
7
In the middle of the
Begijnhof, the pretty English
Reformed Church got its
name from the English (and
Scottish) Presbyterians who
worshipped there after it was
requisitioned in 1578. Prior to
the Alteration, it was used by
the Beguines (a Catholic
sisterhood) who lived in the
Begijnhof. In fact, there has
been a church on this site
since the end of the 14th
century (see p26).
Mozes en
8
Aäronkerk
MAP Q5 • Waterlooplein 205
Here, the nickname comes
from two gablestones
depicting Moses and Aäron
on the house fronts that hid Neo-Baroque St Nicolaasbasiliek
a clandestine church within.
St Nicolaasbasiliek
These are now set into the rear 0
wall. The hidden church was MAP Q1 • Prins Hendrikkade
replaced in 1841 by the present 73 • Open noon–3pm Mon and Sat,
Neo-Classical building, its towers 11am–4pm Tue–Fri; mass 12:30pm
inspired by St Sulpice in Paris. Mon–Sat; in English on Tue
• www.nicolaas-parochie.nl
Waalse Kerk
9 Dedicated to the patron saint of
sea farers, the church was
MAP P4 • Walenpleintje 159
This church – founded in 1409 – is commis sioned by the congregation
all that is left of the convent of of Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
St Paul. Its name means Walloon (see pp24–5). A C Bleys, the
Church, a reference to Wallonia architect, came up with a Neo-
(now Belgium), from where Baroque building with its
Huguenots fled the Catholic terror. stunning stained glass.
In 1586, they were given
use of the Waalse Kerk
so that they could Centraal
Station
continue their worship in PRINS HENDRIKKADE
French. The church’s Prinsengracht Keizersgracht
first organ, built in 1680, Herengracht DAMRAK
WARMOES- STRAAT
needed so much Singel SPUISTRAAT
NIEUWE
maintenance that it was LELIEGRACHT ZIJDE GELDERSEKADE
replaced with a brand RAADHUISSTRAAT
new instrument, which JORDAAN DAM OUDE NIEUW-
master organ builder ZIJDE MARKT
Christian Müller finished SPUISTRAAT Oudeschans
in 1734. Today, Waalse PRINSENGRACHT ROKIN
Kerk is also a beautiful Kloveniersburgwal
and popular concert SPUI
venue, primarily for S I N G EL ROKIN 500
performances of LEIDSEGRACHT LEIDSESTR Amstel 0 metres
classical music. 0 yards 500

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