Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam

Nieuwe Kerk is the church beside Amsterdam’s Royal Palace on Dam Square, and its present appearance carries a remarkable story of destruction and rebuilding. Construction began in 1380, and the church was consecrated in 1409. It began as a Catholic church, became Dutch Reformed in 1578, and now belongs to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.

The building you see bears neo-Gothic details added during a major renovation from 1892 to 1914, while much of its interior dates from reconstruction after a devastating fire in 1645. That blaze began beneath the roof during plumbing work; the roof collapsed, and nearly everything inside was destroyed. The church reopened in 1648 with stone vaults and a new organ.

Look at the substantial west end: it preserves the base of a tower that was never completed. Plans once called for an exceptionally tall tower, but construction stopped in 1653 and most of the unfinished structure was removed in 1783. Inside, this former place of worship now serves as an exhibition venue and hosts organ recitals. It remains the setting for Dutch royal investitures, including Willem-Alexander’s ceremony in 2013, and contains the tomb of naval commander Michiel de Ruyter, created by Rombout Verhulst in 1681.