Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)

Used for Dutch royal investiture ceremonies, this magnificent church is full of history.

TravelCurious Tip

Check out the stunning pulpit, intricately carved by Albert Jansz Vinckenbrinck over a period of 16 years.

Not so new

Adjacent to the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the Nieuwe Kerk isn’t really all that new: it was first built in the early 15th century. It’s considerably less ancient than Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk, however; it was commissioned when the latter could no longer accommodate the city’s growing population.

Despite escaping two major fires in the 15th century, much of the original church was destroyed in a 1645 conflagration. It was swiftly rebuilt at roughly the same time that the Royal Palace was being constructed, and the two share some Gothic similarities.


The church of Kings

The Nieuwe Kerk has been an important royal location since 1814, when William of Orange was formally invested as King. The tradition continues to this day: King Willem-Alexander’s investiture ceremony was held here in 2013, as was his wedding to Queen Máxima in 2002.

The church holds temporary exhibitions of art and history, and its elaborate interior features - including the monumental tomb of naval hero Michiel de Ruyter - make it a wonderful venue. It is well worth a visit, offering some peace and quiet after the bustle of Dam Square.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Amsterdam
Oude Kerk (Old Church)
Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk was consecrated over 700 years ago. Before the Reformation of 1578, it was a Roman Catholic church; afterwards, it became an important centre of Calvinism.
Dam Square
Lying in the very heart of the Dutch capital, Dam Square is surrounded by scenic and notable buildings.
Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace)
Amsterdam’s Royal Palace is one of the best examples of Dutch Baroque.
Magna Plaza
Built in the 19th century as a post office, Magna Plaza is today an iconic shopping centre.
Begijnhof
Amsterdam's picturesque ancient court has a fascinating religious history.
De 9 Straatjes
A photogenic zone of nine cobbled streets full of designer stores, vintage boutiques, cafés and galleries.

Related Tours

The Best of Amsterdam: Private Full-Day Tour with a Canal Cruise
Explore the major sights and hidden gems of Amsterdam on this immersive full-day tour of the Dutch capital. With an expert guide, discover Amsterdam's vibrant culture, architectural beauty and eccentricity, intricate canal network, kilometres of cycle tracks, the city's top two museums, its major monuments and lively markets. End your day with a fabulous cruise along the canals. 

On your private full-day tour, you will:

  • Start the day with a fascinating tour of the Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the artist's life and work - with a huge number of self-portraits and the only surviving photo; 
  • Admire such iconic masterpieces as the Potato Eaters, Sunflowers, the Yellow House, the Bedroom and his very last work, Tree Roots; 
  • Learn about Vincent Van Gogh's passionate life and mental health issues through his art, his letter exchanges with his brother Theo, and through his contemporaries such as Gauguin; 
  • Hear what happened on that fateful night with the knife and his ear, and the questions around his tragic death by gunshot;
  • Take a short comfort break before a guided tour of the highlights of the impressive Rijksmuseum;
  • Admire the architecture of the National Museum of the Netherlands, the 80 galleries that house some 8000 pieces of art and artefacts showing the history of Holland from the 1200s to the present day;
  • Explore the breathtaking collection of art by the Dutch Masters of the Golden Age such as Rembrandt and Vermeer;
  • Enjoy a well-deserved lunch break in the foodie Jordaan district, at a place recommended by your guide;
  • Stroll the highlights of the city centre in the afternoon and discover the canal and cycle networks, the historic buildings and famous monuments;
  • Walk by Anne Frank’s house and hear the tragic story of how the Franks were betrayed and sent to the concentration camps where all died, except Anne's father Otto who published her famous diary; 
  • See the famous and historic Torensluis Bridge, Westerkerk, Dam Square with the royal palace, and the smallest house in Amsterdam;
  • Explore the famously beautiful Bloemenmarkt Flower Market and learn the history of Dutch tulips;
  • Finish the day with tickets to enjoy a one-hour public boat trip on the UNESCO World Heritage canal ring of Amsterdam.

Spend the morning exploring Amsterdam's top two museums: the Van Gogh Museum dedicated to the life and works of Vincent, and the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, as impressive for its architecture as for its amazing collections of historic artefacts and paintings by the Masters of the Dutch Golden Age like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Dyck. 

Hop on a tram to explore the beautiful, bohemian Jordaan District and stop for lunch in the area (price not included) which was once traditionally a rather poor neighbourhood, attracting amazing artists and poets, including Rembrandt and the famous 17th-century Dutch writer Joost van den Vondel. 

After lunch, enjoy an in-depth orientation tour of the city centre. See the highlights of Amsterdam including the Torensluis Bridge, Westerker, and the Anne Frank House.   Visit the world-famous floating Flower Market, which has floated on Amsterdam’s innermost canal since 1862. 

See Dam Square, which came by its name the same way Amsterdam did: it began life as a dam of the Amstel River nearly 750 years ago. As the city grew so did the dam, until it became large enough for a town square, and it has been at Amsterdam’s heart ever since! It is also home to a royal palace. 

At the end of the tour your guide will walk you to the dock to join your Public Canal Cruise, to do one of the most iconic things in Amsterdam: see the city by water. Your cruise will take you through the warren of the city's canals, now listed as a World Heritage site. A perfect way to end the day! 
Welcome to Amsterdam: Private Half-Day Walking Tour
Enjoy a welcome tour of beautiful Amsterdam with an expert guide, famous for its elaborate network of canals, historic gabled houses, impressive artistic heritage from Rembrandt to Vermeer, and of course its numerous bike paths for the thousands of cyclists.  

On your private half-day tour, you will: 

  • Enjoy a welcome city stroll tour of Amsterdam with a professional tour guide;
  • Explore all the major highlights of the city, rich in history and home to invaluable art collections; 
  • Learn the elaborate and unique layout of Amsterdam around four concentric semicircles of canals;
  • Explore Dam Square, home to the iconic and majestic Koninklijk Palace, a royal residence that has served for two centuries as a reception palace for the House of Orange;
  •  See the smallest house in Amsterdam located in the old city centre;
  • Visit Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam's amazing floating flower market;
  • Walk through the Begijnhof, one of the oldest and most picturesque courtyards in Amsterdam;
  • Discover the Dutch love affair with pedal power in a city with 513km of cycle paths;
  • Walk past highlights of the city including the Torensluis Bridge, Anne Frank’s house, and Westerkerk; 
  • End your tour at the Jordaan District – the thriving foodie district of Amsterdam.

From humble beginnings as a fishing village by the Amstel river, Amsterdam became one of the most important European capitals of the 17th Century, by which time it had grown into a lively port town, attracting wealthy merchants and artisans from all over the globe. 

Today Amsterdam is characterized by centuries-old canals, painted houseboats, and streets filled with cyclists. World-class museums and galleries boast highly-prized art collections, while elegant spire-topped churches gaze down on an extraordinary number of stone bridges - more than 500 at last count.

On your tour, you will explore Dam Square, once the mouth of the Amstel River; marvel at the ornate grandeur of the cupola-topped Koninklijk Palace, one of a trio of Dutch royal residences, and enjoy a guided stroll through the highlights of Amsterdam. 

Admire the stunning facade of the 800-year-old Nieuwe Kerk, an important part of Dutch identity and considered “Amsterdam’s living room”. Stroll the famous Torensluis Bridge, then pass by the house of the young Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank and hear the harrowing story of the Frank family.  

Stop to admire 17th-century Westerkerk’s soaring tower and Renaissance facade - learn a bit about Calvinism and religious reform in Amsterdam during the Reformation. In Nine Street, enjoy the buzzy atmosphere of pavement cafes, florists, and boutiques then marvel at the rainbow of vivid fragrant blooms in Amsterdam’s famous floating flower market! 

See where booksellers and street artists vie for attention (on Fridays) close to the leafy courtyard of Begijnhof, a haven of peace and quiet.

Your tour finishes in the Jordaan District – the foodie neighbourhood of Amsterdam, where your guide will happily recommend various dining options to you. 
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