As the name Westzijderkerk suggests this church was built in what was then the western part of Zaandam. It was built between 1638 and 1640 on an existing churchyard. Its ground-plan had the shape of a Greek cross then, with four equally long arms. However, in 1672 the church was extended on the west side while in 1680 a part was added to the east side. Including these extensions the entire church was built in Classical style. The architect is unknown. The peculiar shape of the buttresses is a reference to the temple of Jerusalem; similar buttresses can be found on other 17th-century churches as well.