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Amsterdam's historic centre has a dense cluster of churches, many of them a short walk from the canal ring. Our guide lists 10 places of worship, from the Westerkerk in the Jordaan to smaller churches along the Singel and the Keizersgracht.
The Westerkerk's tower stands beside the Anne Frank House. On the Singel, the Roman Catholic Sint-Franciscus Xaveriuskerk, better known as De Krijtberg, was designed by Alfred Tepe and opened in 1883; its richly decorated interior is the work of Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg. Near the Kalverstraat, De Papegaai is one of the two parish churches of the St Nicholas Roman Catholic parish and is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.
The Begijnhof holds two churches facing each other. The English Reformed Church is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam and is home to an English-speaking congregation affiliated with the Church of Scotland and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. Across from it, the Roman Catholic Begijnhof Chapel, dedicated to Saint John and Saint Ursula, occupies a former schuilkerk, or clandestine church.
The guide also maps the Singelkerk, the Oude Lutherse Kerk on the Singel, the Moeder Godskerk on the Keizersgracht, the Keizersgrachtkerk and Simon de Looier. Several of these are active places of worship: dress respectfully, keep your voice down and check local rules on access and photography.
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10 places in our guide
1. Westerkerk
Jordaan
Church tower by Anne Frank House.
2. Sint-Franciscus Xaveriuskerk
Singel
De Krijtberg Kerk is a Roman Catholic church in Amsterdam, located at the Singel. The church was designed by Alfred Tepe and was opened in 1883. The exuberant interior was made by Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg.
3. Begijnhofkapel
Begijnhof
The Begijnhof Chapel, dedicated to Saint John and Saint Ursula, is a Roman Catholic chapel run by the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, in the St Nicholas Parish of Amsterdam. It is located in a former schuilkerk in the Begijnhof across from its original location, the English Reformed Church, Amsterdam.
4. English Reformed Church
Amsterdam
The English Reformed Church is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam, situated in the Begijnhof, in the centre of the city. It is home to an English-speaking congregation which is affiliated to the Church of Scotland and to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.
5. De Papegaai
Kalverstraat
De Papegaai is the lesser of the two parochial churches in the St Nicholas Roman Catholic parish in Amsterdam. The church is dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.
6. Singelkerk
Amsterdam
7. Simon de Looier
Amsterdam
8. Oude Lutherse Kerk
Singel
9. Moeder Godskerk
Keizersgracht
10. Keizersgrachtkerk
Amsterdam
Questions travellers ask
- Which places of worship does the Amsterdam guide include?
- The Westerkerk, De Krijtberg (Sint-Franciscus Xaveriuskerk), the Begijnhof Chapel, the English Reformed Church, De Papegaai, the Singelkerk, the Oude Lutherse Kerk, the Moeder Godskerk, the Keizersgrachtkerk and Simon de Looier: 10 in total.
- Where is the Westerkerk?
- In the Jordaan; its church tower stands beside the Anne Frank House.
- What is De Krijtberg?
- The Sint-Franciscus Xaveriuskerk, a Roman Catholic church on the Singel designed by Alfred Tepe and opened in 1883.
- Is there an English-speaking church in Amsterdam?
- Yes. The English Reformed Church in the Begijnhof is home to an English-speaking congregation affiliated with the Church of Scotland and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands.
- What can I see in the Begijnhof?
- Two churches facing each other: the English Reformed Church and, opposite it, the Begijnhof Chapel, a Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to Saint John and Saint Ursula.