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Going for a visit to the Anne Frank museum while in Amsterdam? Be prepared for a looooonnnnnggggg wait.
Since the admission line will head down the street and onto the square, Westermarkt, here’s a way to pass the time. If there are a few people in your party, have one person hold your place in the line and the rest of you can duck into the church next door.
Westerkerk, a Reformed church within the Dutch Protestant church was built between 1620 and 1630 according to designs by Hendrick de Keyser and was one of the first purposely built and largest Protestant churches in the Netherlands.
Though very unlike the ornate and beautiful catholic churches we see throughout the world, Westerkerk has a grand, yet simplistic beauty. Walking through the entire structure, take in the large wooden pulpit, carved woodwork, massive chandeliers and the piece that always seems to steal the show in Protestant churches, the organ.
As music was considered profane during the early years of the church, the organ was not part of the interior when the church was consecrated. Located in the rear of the church, the organ’s construction was begun in 1681 by organ builder Roelof Barentszn Duyschot and finished by his son, Johannes. In 1727, the organ was enlarged with a third keyboard and many alterations were done over the years. If you are visiting during the months from April to October, a free weekly lunchtime concert is held on Fridays at one o’clock and a free concert is held almost every day in August where a collection is taken for the costs of the maintenance of the concerts and the organ.
Another smaller, choir organ is also located in the front of the church. This organ, introduced for cantata services was introduced in 1963 by D.A. Flentrop.
One of the most notable items in the church is the memorial shield on the left nave wall, which is a symbolic mark of the grave of the famous Dutch painter, Rembrandt. Living nearby at Rozengracht 184 in extreme poverty, he was buried in an unmarked church grave with several other people in the church. The exact location of his grave remains unknown.
Moving to the outside, the Westerkerk Tower, built in 1638, can be seen from most of the Old City center. Standing 85 meters tall, it is the highest church tower in Amsterdam and can be climbed during the summer months. Lucky enough to have a beautiful, sunny day, I crossed the Prinsengracht Canal, where the steeple and bright blue colored crown can be best viewed. Since the tower has remained municipal property, you may notice a large national flag hanging from the top of the tower on all important days for the city.
Other things that you can check out in the immediate area are the Anne Frank statue located on the Westermarkt and the entrance to the Prinsenhuis, which once served as the entrance to the Westerkerk. The Lord Mayor’s gate is still visible on the Westermarkt side of the church and was once used as a shortcut for the mayors of the city to reach their private stall inside the church (directly opposite the pulpit). The Homomonument is also a popular tourist attraction, commemorating all gay men and lesbians who have been subjected to persecution because of their homosexuality and is located behind the church, at the corner of the Westermarkt and Keizergracht.
Your wait for Anne Frank may be long, but there are a multitude of things you can see to pass the time. Take advantage of all of them!
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Westerkerk Church
- http://www.westerkerk.nl/
- Address: Prinsengracht 281, 1016 GW Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Hours: 1100-1500 every day except Sunday. In October, hours are extended until 1530 and on Saturday, 1000-1730.
- Admission: free
- Guided climbs of the tower are held from June through September,1000 until 1930, every 30 minutes. Reservations advised. Tower admission, €7 and children under 6 are not admitted.
- Every Tuesday from 1200-1300, a carillon concert on 42 bells is played from the Westerkerk Tower.