The Westerkerk is a Protestant church built between 1620 and 1631 and is the largest church in Amsterdam. It was designed by Hendrick de Keyser In 1620, a churchyard was also created. The entrance from Keizersgracht was through a beautiful door, which unfortunately has not been preserved to this day. Instead, you can see the second gate on the Prinsengracht side. It is interesting to note that the cemetery actually started to be used more than 200 years later, when the burial of corpses in the church was stopped in 1865.
The Westerkerk has the highest tower (bell tower) in all of Amsterdam. It is 85 meters high and the ringing of the bells can be heard several times a day. Try to climb it and the effort will be rewarded with a breathtaking view over the center of Amsterdam. The great organ is also very impressive. It was only built in 1681. Its creator was Roelof Barentszn, who gave his name to the organ. It was decorated by the painter Gerard de Lairesse. On Christmas Day 1686, the organ was played for the first time in Westerkerk by Jurriaan Bouff. Nowadays, concerts are organized quite frequently in the church, both by the church choir and organist and by external ensembles.
In 2007 the Braambosgebeden chapel was added, where you can spend time in prayer. Its design and message are based on the biblical scene in which God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush.
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Many famous Dutch artists are buried in this church, including Rembrandt van Rijn. It was also here that Queen Beatrix married Prince Claus von Amsberg in 1966.
The immediate surroundings of the church are also worth noting. On the side of the Westermarkt is the “Mayor’s Gate”, which was used by the mayors of the city to access their private places inside the Westerkerk. Behind the church, on the Keizersgracht, is a memorial dedicated to homosexuals who were persecuted because of their orientation.
How to get to the Westerkerk
https://www.westerkerk.nl/
Prinsengracht 279, 1016 GW Amsterdam, The Netherlands
https://goo.gl/maps/v3eQLECkmnZ1TwkHA
