 Anno 2003 |
 Anno 1567 |
@ Warnar Moll 2002
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Anno 2003 |
Anno 1567 |
| History of the Old Church. The oldest remains of Amsterdam, the ruins of the famous "van Aemstel Castle" (destroyed ± 1204), have been digged up recently (november 2002) near the Dirk van Hasseltsteeg. Though,the Old Church is an unique location being one of the oldest places in Amsterdam (fundaments dated from the year 1250). It is established in the reputated "redlight district", the "Walletjes". In the beginning, the place in front of the Church was a landing-stage for Ships alongside the "Bierkaai" and "Groenmarkt" (Beer- and Foodmarket). Here the sailors and boatsman shipped their products and relaxed themselves. Actually, the Old Church always has been a meeting point to ordinary people for their "gossip". The beautiful light through the high windows of the Church, the medieval church furnishing, gravestones, the magnificent painted wooden vaults, create an unique atmosphere and give away something of the buildings' unique history. The Oude Kerk has been build in different phases and ages and has a total area of 4000 m2. The tombstones set into the floor and the tombs of Dutch naval heroes, including Jacob van Heemskerck, are particularly fine. Among the graves in the church "more than 10000 in all" is that of Rembrandt’s first wife,Saskia van Uylenburgh. A memorial tablet commemorates another celebrity who is buried in the church. He is Kiliaen van Rensselaer, one of the Dutch founders of the city that is now New York. The paintings on the ceiling and the wooden statues in the roof were added in the second half of the XVth and the early XVIth century. Three stained glass windows in the Lady Chapel date from 1555. The two large windows were made by Digman Meynaert after a design by Lambert van Noort; the smaller window depicting the Death of the Virgin is by Dirck Crabeth. In the choir stalls there are still misericordes from Catholic times, decorated with scenes illustrating proverbs and sayings. All that remains of the Holy Sepulchre is the fine canopy. A stained glass window by Jan van Bronckhorst in the choir aisle commemorates the Treaty of Münster (1648). The coat of arms of the mayors of the city between 1578 and 1800 appear in the two windows on either side of the choir aisle. In 1681 the choir was closed off with a brass rood screen. Above it is a text reading"‘t misbruyk in Godes Kerck allengskens ingebracht, Is hier weer afgedaen in ‘t IaEr zeventiCH acht (XVº) "The false practices gradually introduced into God’s church, Were here undone again in the year seventy eight (XV)"), a reference to the Alteratie (Reformation) on 26 May 1578, when the Roman Catholic town council, supportive of Spain, was replaced by a Protestant Orangist council. The Pulpit and Baptistry were both built in the seventeenth century. The Chapterhouse of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1571) and the Churchwardens’ Room (1612) "previously the meeting place of the Board of Guardians, who administered the poor relief in the city" are both open to visitors. The Iron Chapel above the library served as the city archive, since it was here that the important documents of the City of Amsterdam were kept. In the tower of the church one can listen to of the most beautiful carillons of Europe (Hemony fecit). |
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"Speeltoren" Monnickendam The apex of this beautiful tower
(build ± 1500 AD) looks very much alike the tower of the Old
Church. However one can admire this tower in a small village Monnickendam,
about 7 kilometers distance from Amsterdam. The socalled "Van
der Ghein beiaard" carillon was placed in this tower in the year
1595-1597, constructed by Peeter van den Gheijn from Mechelen (Belgium).
It is the oldest functioning carillon in
the world and every hour one can enyoy its sound and a mediaeval tournement is performed.
by four horsemen.. |
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Bellfounder François Hemony constructed two complete carillons for the city of Amsterdam: one of these is the carillon in the Old Church: 35 Bells weighting about 32.800 (Amsterdam-) pounds. Other Hemony carillons can be admired and listened each day in the Western-tower, Munt-tower, Royal palace, and the Southern-tower. His work would give the Dutch the most beautiful carillons in Europe. |
Oude kerk,anno 1620 (at the right side: a wooden bridge across the "Oudezijds
voorburgwal")
Engraving of the "Oude Kerk" anno 1670, "Oudezijds Voorburgwal" (the wooden bridge is replaced by a new one).
Leftside: Painting of the interior of the Old Church (the time of Rembrandt)
Rightside :Painting of the "NieuwMarkt".On the background the Old Church.
Damrak (rak = a navigable fairway): On the background at the right, the tower
of the Old Church.
Oudezijds kolk, and the brigde across the "Zeedijk"
Oudekerksplein, Square. Once a year, from April to June, the "World Press
Photo exposition" is hold here.
Originally the Church was named "Sint Nicolaaskerk". In the 17th century the
Hemony Carillion was placed in the tower.
In the 17th and 18th century small houses were build along the outside of
the church.
About 10000 people are burried in this Church and among them many famous Dutchmen: Saskia van Uylenburg, the first wife of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. She is burried in the old Church at the leftside of the small organ, 19 june 1642, see image below).Remarkably,every year,on the 9th of March at 9 hrs. AM the sun is shining for several minutes on this sarcophage.
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Heraldry (coat of arms) of the Prominent citizens (and Lord Mayors) of Amsterdam
In the middle, third glass, the heraldic of Jan Mol(l) alias Jan
Graaflandt, three moles.
Marble memorial tablet of the Battle of Dunkirk, 1633 against the Spanish.
In honour to the naval hero Captain Cornelis Janszoon (Cornelius Iohannis)
"het Haentje" ( "the cock")
or Cornelis Janszoon de Haan from Amsterdam: Dutch privateer (actually
a pirate !) in the seventeenth century.
Captain of a men-of-war that was engaged with two privateers from Dunkirk
on 19 April 1633.
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Latin: Dutch: English: TEXT BENEATH: HIER RUST DE HELDT DIE VAN ZIJN VIJANDTS SCHEPEN IN ZEVEN MAEL QUAM ZEVEN VLAGEN SLEPEN, EN GAF VOOR, ´T LAEST OP TWEE ZOO DAPPER VONK, DAT D´EENE VLOOD EN D´ANDER BY HEM ZONK. |
Francois Hemony
Fecit. This large bronze bell, (the heaviest one, dated from 1652),
now is exhibited in the Old Church at Amsterdam. It was replaced by
a new one (because of the risk it might be fall down).