Page 92 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

90  A MSTERD A M

1 Nieuwe Kerk
Dam. Map 1 C4. Tel 020-6386909.
v 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17.
Open during exhibitions only (phone
to check). Closed 27 Apr. & 7 -
∑ nieuwekerk.nl
Dating from the late 14th
century, Amsterdam’s second
parish church was built as the
population outgrew the Oude
Kerk (see pp84–5). During its
turbulent history, the church
has been destroyed several
times by fire, rebuilt and then
stripped of its finery after
the Alteration. It reached its
present size in the 1650s.
The pulpit, not the altar, is
the focal point of the interior,
reflecting the Protestant belief
that the sermon is central to
worship. Unusually flamboyant
for a Dutch Protestant church,
it was finished in 1664 and took
Albert Vinckenbrink 15 years to
carve. Above the transept
crossing, grimacing gilded
cherubs struggle to support the
corners of the wooden barrel
vault. Magnificent three-tiered Scene after Vermeer, in Madame Tussauds Scenerama
brass candelabra were hung
from the ceilings of the nave and 3 Madame Tussauds Dam commemorates Dutch
transepts during restoration work Scenerama World War II casualties. It was
following the fire of 1645. The unveiled in 1956 and is fronted
colourful arched window in the Gebouw Peek & Cloppenburg, by two lions, heraldic symbols
south transept was designed Dam 20. Map 2 D5. Tel 020-5221010. of the Netherlands. Embedded
v 4, 9, 14, 16. Open 10am–6:30pm
by Otto Mengelberg in 1898. daily (to 8:30pm Jul & Aug). in the wall behind are urns
It depicts Queen Wilhelmina Closed 27 Apr. & = 7 containing earth from all the
surrounded by courtiers at ∑ madametussauds.com Dutch provinces as well as
her coronation. In the apse is from the former Dutch colonies
Rombout Verhulst’s memorial Madame Tussauds offers an of Indonesia, the Antilles
to Admiral De Ruyter (1607–76), audiovisual tour of Amsterdam’s and Suriname.
who died at sea in battle against history, as well as projected
the French. future developments. Some of
the displays, such as the ani- 5 Nes
mated 5-m (16-ft) figure of Map 2 D5. v 4, 9, 14, 16.
“Amsterdam Man”, are bizarre,
but the wax models of 17th- This quiet, narrow street is
century people give an insight home to several theatres
into life in the city’s Golden and good restaurants. In
Age. Current celebrities and 1614, Amsterdam’s first
pop stars also feature among pawnshop opened at Nes
the exhibits. No. 57. A wall plaque marks
the site, and pawned goods
4 Nationaal continue to clutter the shop
window. At night, Nes can
Monument prove to be dangerous for
Stained-glass window at the Nieuwe Kerk Dam. Map 2 D5. v 4, 9, 14, 16. the unguarded visitor.
in Amsterdam
Sculpted by John Raedecker 6 Amsterdam
2 Koninklijk Paleis and designed by architect Museum
JJP Oud, the imposing
See pp92–3. 22-m (70-ft) obelisk in the See pp96–7.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp396–7 and pp406–9

090-091_EW_Netherlands.indd 90 16/01/17 12:03 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm