Restoration work De Nieuwe Kerk completed!

Thanks to several large generous donors and many tens of thousands of small contributions from the public.

Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam Rutger Groot Wassink has just officially concluded the major foundation project of De Nieuwe Kerk. During the major work of the past few months, the eight metre-high columns of the ‘nave’ have received their new foundations. This particular group of columns had not been included during last century’s major renovation. With the completion of these last eight, all columns are now stable. Repair work around the famous stained-glass windows will take place in over a year, after the church is properly ‘set’ again. For now, De Nieuwe Kerk is proud to close this part of the restoration project, for which 2.7 million euros were raised, and is happy that the building is now fully accessible to the public again. The Amsterdam monument is ready to celebrate its 750th anniversary.

The deputy mayor unveiled a special text on one of the pillars, the place where, according to an ancient tradition, a tube was placed underground. With, for future generations, a document about the restoration and all the names of everyone who contributed – signed by the project’s principals Annabelle Birnie (director) and Vincenza La Porta (director of the Church Office of the Protestant Church Amsterdam). Back in 1870, a tube was also placed under the floor in De Nieuwe Kerk, on the spot where Joost van den Vondel’s grave once was. His memorial stone will be placed with the other writers’ stones, in the church’s literary pantheon.

Exhibition

The national monument on Dam Square is frequently used for exhibitions and events and can therefore rarely be admired in its full splendour. During ‘Explore De Nieuwe Kerk’, the 600-year-old church tells you about its eventful existence. About medieval secrets, royal traditions, Catholic devotion and Protestant sobriety, sailors, writers, but also about the church’s spectacular architecture and the people of Amsterdam who have visited the building for centuries. Told through historical objects, works of art, hidden period rooms and the interior. From the copper choir screen by Johannes Lutma, the pulpit by Albert Jansz. Vinckenbrinck to the famous organ by Hans Wolff Schonat and Jacob van Campen, with paintings by Jan Gerritsz. van Bronckhorst and sculptures by Artus Quellinus. Other highlights are the famous stained-glass windows from four different centuries. In the ‘ambulatory’, visitors take a journey through time past tombs, chapels and colourful murals left over from Catholic times. A comprehensive (free) tour of some of the highlights in the church is available via an app.