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