
Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam
Fire at the Nieuwe Kerk
Fate was not kind to the church. In 1421 a large part of the city of Amsterdam burnt down. The Nieuwe Kerk also fell victim to this fire. Reconstruction work was carried out until another fire in 1452 did quite a lot of damage. However, it is not like the people of Amsterdam to lose heart. The final result is a beautifully ornamented church which does the city proud.
The bell tower
It is quite amazing that the iconoclastic fury of 1566 did not affect the church. However, in 1578 the Presbyterians claimed the building. They were averse to frills and did away with the statues and altars which had decorated the church for so long. The church survived another fire in 1645. Unfortunately, the building of the new City Hall overshadowed reconstruction. As a result, the church did not get a bell tower. The Nieuwe Kerk had to make do with three small clocks which were mounted in the tower, on the spot where the roofs cross.
Royal events and cultural exhibitions
Through the years, the Nieuwe Kerk played an important role in our royal history. This is where important royal ceremonies are held. In 2002, crown prince Willem-Alexander (now the king) married his Máxima. Eleven years later, in 2013, the Nieuwe Kerk served as the backdrop for the coronation of King Willem-Alexander. Today, the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam is mainly a place that hosts inspiring exhibitions about art, photography, and special persons and cultures.