Canals – Local tips (art & culture)

This church was built by D. Stalpaert between 1668 and 1670. It was supposed to be an emergency church (a preach barn), waiting for the definite church to be built from stone on the large square or field in front of it, however this has never happened. The church existed of unpainted redwood without any decoration. The nave was a construction of 12 wooden pillars connected to beams by korbels. In 1755 a new horizontal construction was made in a lighter colour.

In 1840-1843 the church was rebuilt by architect P.J. Hamer. The original wooden construction was hidden by Gothic curves. Interior and organ were replaced and in 1990 a complete restoration of the church found place. The entire 17th century wooden constructions and 19th century interior were restored and ever since it is part of the city regeneration.

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Amstel Church | Art & culture | Free
Amstelveld 10 | Canals
24 hours daily

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Amsterdam? Perhaps windmills, coffee shops or its famous Red Light District.

Well, Amsterdam is also home to one of the most renowned flower markets in the Netherlands and the only floating flower market in the world – Bloemenmarkt. This is a major tourist attraction in the city which is located on the Singel canal between the Koningsplein and the Muntplein. It is an array of colours and smells, and is best visited if you are out for an early morning walk as there are less tourists.  Bloemenmarkt market is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. except on Sunday when it opens from 11 a.m. until 5.30 p.m.

The history of Royal Theatre Carré is closely associated with the family Carré. The family Carré is a French/German dynasty of highly skilled riders and circus artists who performed in the Netherlands for the first time in September 1863. They did an horse-act on the annual fair of Amsterdam. From that day on, Carré became a circus. On the 6th of December 1963 Carré revealed something new, called the One Man Show. One man alone for a big audience. In history, it had never happened that a variety show artist dared to do this.

On the 1st of January 1977 Carré became a real theatre. The city council bought the theatre and brought back the circus into Carré. The next director took on something new; the own production of the musical ‘Cats’. Carré brought de Dutch showbiz on an international level, with the production of Cats.

Tours
Although Carré is a very old building with a great historical history, behind the scenes its an ultra modern theatre. During this tour you can experience the dynamic and daily live of top entertainment. You will wander the stage, the dressing-rooms and the foyers. Nice stories, architecture, history and the performances during the last 120 years are discussed. You will get the complete story and nothing will be a secret anymore!

The guided tours take place every Saturday at 11:00. Ticket price: € 8.00. To make a reservation, call +31 20 5249 452.

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Carré | Art & culture, Theaters | Tickets from € 15.00
Amstel 115-125 | Canals
Open every day when the theatre starts

De Bazel is the city archive of Amsterdam, and an impressive art deco building with a rich and royal history. The building, named after its architect K.P.C. de Bazel (1869-1923), was built between 1919 en 1926 for the ‘Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij‘ (Dutch Trading Company), a trading company and bank.

Karel de Bazel intended his architectural designs to be in harmony with their environment. His intention was to communicate a divine message through his creations. The rooms in the building were built in many styles. The more important you were, the darker the wood in the room was and the darker the colour green on the walls were. The hierarchical idea of the building was important too.

Currently De Bazel is the city archive of Amsterdam, but also a conference centre. The large “King’s chamber”, as well as the six smaller adjacent rooms, have been restored to their original state. The banquet rooms with the lovely floors, ceilings with chandeliers, paintings, unique stained glass windows and chairs and tables designed by the architect himself, you feel as if you are back in the rich seventeenth century of the old Dutch traders. What is interesting is that De Bazel did not only designed the furniture, but also ash trays, pencils and a crockery set.

Maybe for tourists this is not the most interesting “museum” to see, but for the architecture you definitely have to go there. There still is a large treasury room from the time it was a bank, and worthwile seeing. I was really surprised and stunned about all the details.

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De Bazel | Art & culture | Exhibiton Adults € 4.00
Vijzelstraat 32 | Canals | +31202511800
Tue – Sat 10:00 -17:00, Sun 11:00 – 17:00

It was the first Catholic Parish Church in Amsterdam after the parish reclassification in 1857.

Architect T. Molkenboer designed the church in an Italian Baroque style. Inside the church you see a central and basilical construction. A short but wide nave is flanked by galeries and ends in an octagonal headroom with its sanctuary. In 1974 the last official service was held. People from the neighbourhood and parishioners were not amused and started to organize their own services.

The restaurant started in 1998, and was finished in 2002. The organ was restored in 2006. Now the church also functions as a cultural- and civil activity centre.

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De Duif | Art & culture | Free
Prinsengracht 756 | Canals
24 hours daily

This is a Catholic Church in the centre of Amsterdam, on the Spui, made for the Catholic church service.

The church is officially known as the Roman Catholic Church of Sint Franciscus Xaverius. Since 1654 the members of the “church” then prayed and preached in a house named “The Crijtberg”. In 1881, they officially start building a church. The Neo-Gothic style was introduced by Alfred Tepe and the church was consecrated in 1883. The job for the architect was to build the church between the existing houses. That is why it has such high windows and the more you go to the back of the church, the broader it is.

Between 1979 and 2001 the renovation was accomplished. The foundation, the roof and the stained glass windows were renovated, after that the altar and the pulpit. At the end of the 20th century the paintings, the statues and the plaster were restored.

The organ is a huge one. It is called the organ of Adema and was used since 1905. After 1905, many registers were added to the organ and it was replaced twice in the meantime.

Personally I think this is one of the most beautiful churches in Amsterdam, because of the many colors used and the detailed paintings on the ceiling and walls. It is an impressive church, that gives me a warm feeling when entering it. There is also so much light coming in, it is not a sober church, but really a pretty and pleasant one. I hope my photo will impress you and that you will visit this wonderful church.

The church is opened half an hour before the mass starts.

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De Krijtberg | Art & culture | Free
Singel 448 | Canals | +31206231923
Tue – Thu & Sun open for visitors from 13:30- 17:00

This home was one of the first buildings build in the Golden Bend in 1669. Most of the houses were build on two areas, but this one was build on one area only.

If you have read other articles of mine, your know I really love architecture. I mentioned it before, most of the buildings in Amsterdam were renovated in the Lodewijk XV style. It is a common home, a back- and front home, separated with a courtyard and a staircase. In 1890 a huge renovation was done to connect the old with the new Lodewijk VX part. The living room and the ball room in the back of the house were Neo-empiric style.

The nicest part of this home is the painting of Jacob de Wit. It is painted on the ceiling of the building, three stocks high. If you are standing in the middle of the house right beneath the stair case, and you look up, you will see the painting. It is the only place in the house where you can see it. The painting is called “The Witjes”, named after the painter.

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Erfgoedhuis | Art & culture | Free
Herengracht 474 | Canals | +31207167350
On request

Photography Museum Amsterdam is located in a stately looking building on the Keizersgracht, close to the Vijzelstraat. The interior is quite modern, and it has the airiness and bland look that you need to facilitate different exhibitions. There are always people inside, but it rarely feels crowded. You will not feel pressured to rush through the three or four varying exhibitions.

Photography is a matter of taste, but I have found something I liked every time I went there. There is usually a good mix between the works of upcoming talents and established names such as Henri Cartier-Bresson or James Nachtwey, and the content of the photos ranges from celebrations of life, to testimonies of human decay and suffering. Sometimes you will find it all in one exhibition, or even in one picture.

I have been touched by what I have seen in Foam many times, in different ways. I find that Foam has a skillful pick, offering different esthetics and different stories, thereby appealing to different visitors or moods.

If you need to gather your thoughts after you have seen a intense exhibition, you can visit the small coffee bar, which has a pleasant atmosphere and sells excellent coffee and homemade cakes.

A small sidenote: Foam is one of the most dynamic museums in the city. They sell signed and limited prints in the attic and they regularly organize events. It might be worthwhile to ask what they have planned when you are there.

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Foam | Art & culture | Entrance € 7.50
Keizersgracht 609 | Canals | +31205516500
Sat – Wed 10:00 – 18:00, Thu – Fri 10:00 – 21:00

In 1670 the house on the Herengracht 476, belonging to Francois de Vicq was finished. Due to the town-development in 1662, this house was build in the Golden Bend. It is a relatively big home, but counts only one floor. The facade is made of bricks and divided by pillars made of sandstone. It is the last building of the 17th century with such a unique facade.

In 1730 the house was modernised and the famous painter Jacob de Wit painted the ceiling of this house. The typical staircase is brightly lighted by an annex dome, also called the lantern.

Until 1881 this house was a home of several families. From 1881 until 1887 it was a girls’ school, known as the “Golden School” because of her location. Until 1974 this house was inhabited by the family Mirandolle. Only during the second World War, the Germans took over. Since 1974 the Prins Bernhard Culture Foundation is situated in this house.

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Huis de Vicq | Art & culture | Free
Herengracht 476 | Canals
On request

This two area house was built in 1670, but what you see right now was done during a huge renovation in 1875 by the architect W. Hamer (1843-1913). During this renovation almost the entire facade was rebuilt and the neo-renaissance staircase was completely renovated.

Later on, the staircase was decorated with three tapestries from the 17th century with expositions from the history of Marcus Antonius and Cleopatra. The sidewalk came back in 1903 and in 1926 the house was bought by the company Goudstikker, the former largest art trader in the Netherlands.

After that a bank was situated here and at the moment it is getting restored.

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Huis Goudstikker | Art & culture | Free
Herengracht 458 | Canals
On request

The Evangelic-Lutheran Community was grounded in 1588 and named after the reformer Maarten Luther.

This church was built in 1633 for Lutheran refugees from European cities and later on for Suriname people. At this moment the church is a centre for life orientation, religion and spirituality.

The building was not built in the particular Lutheran style. The church consist of seven houses in a row imitating the seven echelons. You still recognize them these days. There is the main church with on three sides balconies on two or three floors. This to make a free floor for the pulpit. It makes it possible to house several thousands of churchgoers.

Many renovations were done to this church. In 1774 the windows were replaced by wood and plain glass, whereby the lighting radically changed. The vaults were colored Berlin blue and the skeleton grew.

In 1885, next to the wedding chapel, the Tetterode Library was built. Architect K.P.C. de Bazel (the same architect of the city archive The Bazel, designed this room, it is an important Jugendstil Monument. In 1925 the foundation sank, and graves had to be replaced.

Since 1961 the Amsterdam University rents the church and the accompanying buildings for orations, doctoral degrees and congresses.

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Lutheran Church | Art & culture | Free
Singel 411 | Canals
Daily, worship Sun 10.30

The Museum is a 17th century House at the canal. It has several style rooms like: the Blue room, the Red room, the Chinese room and the Library.

The house has a beautiful garden and behind the garden there is the old “Koetshuis”. The staff lived here, and this is where the coaches were stalled. The house can be rented for private dinners, parties or even weddings.

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Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis | Art & culture | Adult € 6.00
Keizersgracht 633 | Canals | +31206390747
Fri – Mon 11:00 – 17:00

This is a double-sized canal house which dates from 1672. The first resident was the painter Ferdinand Bol, one of Rembandt’s most famous pupils.

In the 19th century, the Van Loon family came to live in this house. The family’s history is closely intertwined with that of Amsterdam. Several Van Loons held important positions as city-mayors.

Here you will get a splendid impression how people lived in the 19th century. The house is modernized, but the kitchen is still from the 17th century, as is the bed. On the second floor, the later generation still has it’s own private bedrooms etc. Parties and private diners are held by the family and then the museum is closed.

I think it is nice that they keep the house in it’s original state, make a museum out of it, but still use it privately too.

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Museum van Loon | Art & culture | Entrance adults € 6.00
Keizersgracht 672 | Canals | +31206245255
Fri – Mon 11:00 – 17:00

This house is a double one. It was built in 1685 and took two years before it was finished. The style rooms give you a look of how people lived in the 18th and 19th century.

The hall, stairs, dining room, ball room and the garden give an impression of the family Willet-Holthuysen. You can also see the sleeping room and the blue salon on the first floor. This canal house also has a great garden with an old “Koetshuis”.

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Museum Willet-Holthuysen | Art & culture | Adult € 4.00
Herengracht 605 | Canals | +31205231822
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 17:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

Between the canals bordering the Jordaan, you find an area with shops, restaurants, lunch bars and pubs called “Negen Straatjes”, which translates into Nine Streets. These nine streets are: Reestraat, Berenstraat, Runstraat, Hartenstraat, Wolvenstraat, Huidenstraat, Gasthuismolensteeg, Oude Spiegelstraat and Wijde Heisteeg. They are all located in between the Singel and the Prinsengracht, running in a ninety degrees angle to the canals.

This little neighborhood is wellknown, nevertheless it is never really crowded. You have to be on guard for delivery trucks in the narrow streets, but you can walk from store to store in peace.

The little shops are very specialized and they sell the weirdest stuff. If you take your time, you just might find something beautiful.

When I am walking around here, looking at the little businesses, I get the feeling that they are run by people that have quit a boring job to focus on their passion. There might be a big turnover in shops that are so particular, but these streets are so widely known that a lot of them seem to be able to survive.

If you are tired of all the shops you will be sure to find a nice café or lunch bar where you can a coffee or a proper meal.

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The 9 streets | Art & culture, Shopping | Free
9 straatjes | Canals
Daily

The Biblical Museum is housed in two historic buildings on the Herengracht and build in 1660-1662. The renowned architect Philips Vingboons built the houses for Amsterdam merchant Jacob Cromhout. Remarkable on this museum is that these are four completely different sized houses, but looking identical on the outside. The remarkable and atmospheric setting provides a home for the unique collection of one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands.

The Museum tells the story of the Bible. Displays centered on a model of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem explaining the significance of this sacred place in Judaism, Christianity and Islam and all very understandable for children. They tell the fascinating story of how the Bible came into existence, and the influence it has had on Dutch society through the ages.

Furthermore, it houses a famous 19th-century model of the Tabernacle: a wonderful reconstruction of the sacred shrine housing the Ark of the Covenant, which the Israelites carried with them during their exile in the desert under the leadership of Moses. This to give visitors an impression of the religious life of the ancient Egyptians.

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The Biblical Museum | Art & culture | Entrance adults € 7.50
Herengracht 366-368 | Canals | +31206242436
Mon – Sat 10:00 -17:00, Sun (& holidays) 11:00 – 17:00

You all know Anne Frank. This is the Church which she overlooked when she was in hiding.

The Church is the most famous one of Amsterdam, as everyone knows the history of Anne Frank. Also Rembrandt, one of the world’s most famous painters, was buried in the church.

Hendrick de Keyser, the city architect, built the church in Dutch Renaissance style, which is characterized by a combination of brick and stone.

The Westerkerk was officially opened on Whitsunday in 1631. It is one of the oldest churches especially built for the Protestant services, and the largest as such Church in the Netherlands.

The tower, which occupies a unique place in the affections of the people of Amsterdam, bears the symbol of the imperial crown of Maximilian of Austria. He gave this gift to the city in gratitude for support given to the Austro-Burgundian princes. It has inspired many songs and poems and remains a symbol of the city for Amsterdammers abroad.

Nice to know is that the hour bell is the heaviest in Amsterdam and weighs more than 7.500 kilograms; its hammer weighs 200 kilograms. The carillon, or set of tuned bells, was cast by Francois Hemony and was extensively restored in 1959. It now consists of 50 bells. Every Tuesday from 12 to 1 o’clock the carillon is played.

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Westerkerk | Art & culture | Free
Prinsengracht 281 | Canals | +31206247766
Apr – Oct Mon – Fri 11:00 – 15:00