Church of St Nicholas (Amsterdam)

The Sint Nicolaaskerk (Church of St. Nicholas) is a Roman Catholic church in the centre of Amsterdam.

Sint Nicolaaskerk
Church of Saint Nicholas
52°22′36″N 4°54′04″E / 52.37667°N 4.90111°E / 52.37667; 4.90111Coordinates: 52°22′36″N 4°54′04″E / 52.37667°N 4.90111°E / 52.37667; 4.90111
Country	Netherlands
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.nicolaas-parochie.nl
Architecture
Architect(s)	Adrianus Bleijs
Style	Neo-Baroque Neo-Renaissance
Administration
Parish	Amsterdam St Nicholas
Diocese	Haarlem
Clergy
Priest(s)	Joop Stam
Deacon	Eugene Brussee

Officially the church was called St. Nicholas inside the Walls, i.e. the oldest part of the Amsterdam defence works. The architect, Adrianus Bleijs (1842-1912) designed the church basing himself on a combination of several revival styles of which Neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance are the most prominent models.

The facade is crowned by two towers with a rose window in between. The centre of this window is formed by a bas relief depicting Christ and the four Evangelists, made in the Van den Bossche and Crevels workshop in 1886. A sculpture of the patron saint of both the church and the city of Amsterdam was placed in a niche in the upper section of the gable top. The well-known sculptor Bart van Hove (1850-1914) made the sculpture in 1886. The crossing is articulated by a large octagonal tower with a baroque dome and lantern and crowned by a cross.

The basis of the groundplan is the scheme of the classic three-aisled cross-basilica, i.e. a nave, two aisles and a single transept. The choir is located as is usual, at the end of the nave. In the corners formed by the transept and the nave, two chapels are located, traditionally devoted to Mary and Joseph.

Inside the newly renovated church, a 19th century Sauer Organ can be found, on which concerts are given and mass is accompanied.

The church is still a very active parish, which serves the city centre. It boasts 3 choirs, 2 of which sing choral evensongs every Saturday at 5pm.

Services

• Sunday
  • 1030 Eucharist
  • 1300 Eucharist in Spanish
  • 1700 Gregorian Vespers
• Monday-Friday
  • 1230 Eucharist (Spanish on Friday)
• Saturday
  • 1230 Eucharist
  • 1700 Choral Evensong (koorvespers)

The famous view of the dome of the Church of St. Nicholas in Amsterdam seen from the Oudezijds Voorburgwal.

External links

• (Dutch) St. Nicolaaskerk Amsterdam (parish)
• Music Foundation of the St. Nicholas Church (choral music and organ concerts)