Westerkerk, Amsterdam

Westerkerk is the Reformed church before you, built in Amsterdam during the seventeenth century for Protestant worship. Its design came from Hendrick de Keyser, and Pieter de Keyser completed the building after his father’s death. Construction ran from 1620 to 1631, and the church measures about 58 metres in length and 29 metres in width.

The plan joins two equal transepts to a basilica, creating an unusual pattern of connected Greek crosses. The tower beside the church is the Westertoren, Amsterdam’s highest church tower, rising to about 87 metres. Its spire carries the Imperial Crown of Austria associated with Maximilian I.

Just above the clock faces is a carillon with 51 bells; 14 of the oldest were cast by François Hemony in 1658. Its historic drum still marks each quarter of the hour, and this carillon is the city’s only one that sounds throughout the full day, at the request of residents of the Jordaan. Inside, the main organ began with Roelof Barentszn Duyschot and was completed by his son in 1686.

Christiaan Vater enlarged it in 1727, and Flentrop rebuilt it between 1989 and 1992, restoring its mechanical action. The organ shutters carry paintings by Gerard de Lairesse, including King David and the Queen of Sheba. In 1966, Princess Beatrix married Claus von Amsberg here.