Oude Kerk

Top choice in Medieval Centre & Red Light District


Dating from 1306, the Oude Kerk is Amsterdam's oldest surviving building. It's also an intriguing moral contradiction: a church surrounded by active Red Light District windows. Inside, check out the stunning Vater-Müller organ, the naughty 15th-century carvings on the choir stalls, and famous Amsterdammers’ tombstones in the floor (including Rembrandt’s wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh). Regular art exhibitions take place in the church; you can also climb the tower on a guided tour. Church admission is by credit/debit card only.

Transportation

  • tram: 4/14/24 Dam

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Medieval Centre & Red Light District attractions

1. Oude Kerk Tower

Guides lead intriguing tours up into the 67m-high tower of the Oude Kerk. Tours last 30 minutes and depart every half hour. Prepare for lots of narrow…

2. Belle Statue

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Bearing the inscription 'Respect sex workers all over the world', the 2007-built bronze statue of Belle stands on a granite pedestal on the square outside…

3. Trompettersteeg

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An intriguing place to view the Red Light action is Trompettersteeg, a teeny alley where the women in the windows charge some of the highest prices…

4. Prostitution Information Centre

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Established by a former sex worker, the PIC provides frank information about the industry to those in the trade, their customers and curious tourists. It…

5. Warmoesstraat

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Amsterdam's earliest canals grew out from the IJ River like the roots of a tree, and Warmoesstraat was one of the first streets to follow. Its historical…

6. Red Light Secrets

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Inside a former brothel in a 17th-century canal house, this museum fills a gap by showing curious visitors what a Red Light room looks like and answering…

7. W139

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Duck into this contemporary arts centre and ponder the multimedia exhibits, which often have an edgy political angle. Check the website for frequent…

8. Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder

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Within what looks like an ordinary canal house is an entire Catholic church. Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Dear Lord in the Attic) was built in the mid…

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