The Oude Kerk (Old Church)
is Amsterdam's oldest building, with its oldest parts dating from the
13th century. Until the protestant took over power, the church was
consecrated to St. Nicholas of Myra, patron of sailors and traders and
patron saint of Amsterdam. The church had had several predecessors
before it was constructed. A wooden chapel was replaced by a stone hall
church during the second half of the 13th century. Since the church had
to be build on piles which were driven into the muddy soil, the
construction was made as light as possible. Therefore it has wooden
barrel vaults and tall pointed windows, and covers a large area
compared to its height. The current church however is also the result
of numerous changes that were made to the building later. It was
widened as well as heightened, but plans to heighten the transepts as
well were never executed. Until this very day the transepts still carry
their provisional roofs. |
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