Page 119 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

C ANAL RING  117

w De Krijtberg the Immaculate
Conception, which
Singel 448. Map 4 F1. Tel 020-6231923.
v 1, 2, 5. Open noon–1:15pm & 5– shows Mary trampling
6:15pm Mon & Fri, noon–6:15pm Tue– the serpent. It used
Sat, 9am–6:30pm Sun. 5 12:30pm, to be housed in the
5:45pm Mon–Fri, 12:30pm, 5:15pm original hidden chapel.
Sat, 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, 5:15pm
Sun. 7 ∑ krijtberg.nl
e Bijbels
An impressive Neo-Gothic Museum
church, the Krijtberg (or chalk Herengracht 366–368.
hill) replaced a clandestine Map 4 E1. Tel 020-
Jesuit chapel in 1884. It is 6242436. v 1, 2, 5. Grand façade of the Stadsarchief
officially known as Franciscus 4 Herengracht/Leidsegracht.
Xaveriuskerk, after St Francis Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun & public t Stadsarchief
Xavier, one of the founding hols. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr. & 7 Amsterdam
Jesuit monks. ∑ bijbelsmuseum.nl
Designed by Alfred Tepe, Vijzelstraat 32. Map 4 F2. Tel 020-
the church was built on the site Reverend Leendert Schouten 5720202. v 16, 24. Open 10am–
of three houses; the presbytery founded the Bible Museum in 5pm Tue–Fri, noon–5pm Sat &
Sun. Closed Mon & public hols.
beside the church is on the site 1860, when he put his private 7 (with permission).
of two other houses, one of artifact collection on public ∑ stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl
which had belonged to a chalk display. In 1975, the museum
merchant – hence the church’s moved to its present site, The Stadsarchief, the city’s
nickname. The back of the two 17th-century houses municipal archives, moved
church is wider than the front, designed by Philips Vingboons. from its former location
extending into the space once Highlights are a copy of the in Amsteldijk to this
occupied by the original gardens. Book of Isaiah from the Dead monumental building.
The narrowness of the façade Sea Scrolls and the Delft Designed by KPC de Bazel,
is redeemed by its two magnifi- Bible (1477). one of the principal represen-
cent, soaring, steepled towers. tatives of the Amsterdam
The ornate interior of the r Looier Kunst en School of Architecture, the
building contains some good edifice was completed in 1926
examples of Neo-Gothic design. Antiekcentrum for the Netherlands Trading
The stained-glass windows, walls Elandsgracht 109. Map 4 D1. Company. In spite of much
painted in bright colours and Tel 020-6249038. v 7, 10, 13, 14, 17. renovation work at the end of
liberal use of gold are in striking Open 11am–6pm daily (to 5pm World War II and in the 1970s,
contrast to the city’s austere Sat & Sun). Closed public hols. ^ 7 the building retains many
Protestant churches. A statue of ∑ antiekcentrumamsterdam.nl attractive original features,
St Francis Xavier stands in front such as colourful floor
and to the left of the high altar; The Looier antiques centre is mosaics (designed by de
one of St Ignatius, founder of the a vast network of rooms in a Bazel himself). There is a
Jesuits, stands to the right. block of houses near the canal. permanent display of treasures
Near the pulpit is an 18th- Its 100 stalls sell everything from the archives in the
century wooden statue of from glassware to dolls. monumental vaults.
On the Canals
Though Amsterdam’s canals were built for moving
goods, today they provide a marvellous means of
viewing the city’s sights and its everyday life. There
are many operators in the city offering canal tours
with foreign-language commentaries; boats depart
from an embarkation point, mainly from opposite
Centraal Station, along Prins Hendrikkade, the
Damrak and along the Rokin. Another canal-
sightse eing option is the popular canalbus which
runs along three routes, with 14 stops near the
major museums, shopping areas and other
attractions. If you feel energetic, try a canal bike,
which is really a two- or four-seater pedal-boat that
can be picked up and left at any of the canal-bike
moorings in the city centre.

116-117_EW_Netherlands.indd 117 16/01/17 12:03 pm