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St. Nicolaas Kerk
A one minute walk from the Centraal Station lies the Sint Nicolaaskerk, one of the better known churches in Amsterdam. Dedicated to the patron saint of the sailors, the church was completed in 1887 and it became the leading Catholic Church in the city, replacing a number of Amsterdam's secret churches from the era of the Alteration. During the Alteration the city council was overtaken by Protestants and the Catholics lost their Sint Nicolaaskerk (the present-day Oude Kerk) and were officially forbidden from holding religious services in public. They were forced to gather in shelters or in secret homes. That period lasted from 1578 until about 1795, when finally the Catholics were allowed to build churches again. The architect, A.C. Bleys designed the church using a combination of styles of which neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque are the most notable. The basilica has the shape of a cross with a nave, two aisles and a single transept. The facade has two imposing towers with a rose window in between. The interior is richly decorated and very beautiful. Catholic services are still performed here.
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The Royal Palace
Located across the national monument, The Royal Palace or Koninklijk Paleis dominates the Dam square with its presence. The building doesn't look like a palace and that is because it was originally built to replace the Town Hall which was destroyed by fire. The architecture of the building was intended to show the prestige and power of Europe's commercial capital during the 17th century. The architect, Jacob van Campen, faithfully followed the classical architectural themes and what resulted is this imposing neoclassical facade. The palace was built between 1648 and 1665 and for over a century this was the city's seat of government. It was in 1808 when Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother crowned himself King of the Netherlands that the building was transformed into a royal residence. After Bonaparte left, William I, the new King of the Netherlands gave the palace back to the city, but the government of Amsterdam could not afford the huge cost of maintainance. In 1936 the Royal Palace became state property and the royal family uses it only for official ceremonies. The interior of the palace is open for public if no ceremonies are scheduled.
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De Nieuwe Kerk
Amsterdam's Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) sits on a corner of the Dam, next to the Royal Palace. It was built in the late 14th century when Oude Kerk became too small for the city. Its contruction was approved in 1408 by the bishop of Utrecht, however the Nieuwe Kerk had already been under construction since the 1380s. The church was damaged by fires and restored numerous times throughout the centuries. Its architecture as we see it today is predominantly Gothic. Many famous Dutch-men are buried inside the church. Also inside, the beautiful pulpit is considered a baroque masterpiece; it was made by Albert Vinckenbrinck and his pupils which took 13 years to finish it. Equally beautiful is the organ; don't forget to take a look at it. The church has been the place for coronation for the kings and queens of Netherlands since 1814 when the coronation of King William I took place here. Like in many Protestant churches, exhibitions, concerts and conferences are held inside the church. In fact Nieuwe Kerk even has a cafe, "t nieuwe cafe", which occupies a corner of the church and opens into the square. When I visited they had an interesting exhibition called "Love from the Hermitage" with works of art on the theme of love from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
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