Let me explain a bit of background, here. One can see St Nicholas’s Church – the “future” of this church. Oppression, coercion and persecution: all of these words refer to the domination of others and go against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Long and narrow. Museum Our Lord in the Attic is Amsterdam's second oldest museum. For younger kids (5-10 years) there is a scavenger hunt available called ‘Ladybug in the Attic’ and for older kids there is a tailored audioguide called “Feast! Behind the altar, are several more rooms. Its present appearance dates from the second quarter of the eighteenth century, when the second gallery was extended, and the new altar was brought forward. The Attic is located in the far right side of The Country Church parking lot at: 1005 W. FM 78 in Marion Texas. The organ is still played. During the 16th century, a major religious movement within Europe also touched the Netherlands. Explore the narrow corridors and climb the stairs to historically furnished livingrooms, kitchens and bedsteads, leading literally to the highpoint of the museum: an entire church in the attic. Until 1999, the pulpit was shown twice a day and was used for every mass. A formal reception area welcomed guests, and there was a normal kitchen, complete with famous blue-and-white tiles from neighboring Delft. Because the only church that was allowed was the church of the king. The second oldest museum in Amsterdam, the Museum Our Lord in the Attic was built in the 17th century by a merchant, Jan Hartman. During the reformation Catholics were not allowed to worship in public, so they devised secret places in which to celebrate Mass.. Code names were given to these places so, for example, fellow Catholics might say “I am going to the parrot” as a way of letting others know where Mass was being celebrated. And possibly the most surprising one: a 17th-century canal house with a church in the attic. The attic church ceased to function as a church and in 1888 a group of Amsterdam Catholics who had formed 'De Amstelkring' foundation bought the building to safe it from demolition. The Crucifixion, painted by Johannes Voorhout (1647‑1723) of Amsterdam in 1676, depicts the Virgin Mary and St John standing and Mary Magdalene kneeling. I’m off to explore a historical secret! Some of these have a direct relation with the church: the painting of Petrus Parmentier, dating back to 1681 depicts the Augustinian priest Petrus Parmentier who served at the church from 1663 to 1671. The Church of Our Lord in the Attic was designed to avoid undo attention from Amsterdam’s dominant Protestant population. The Church in the Attic. I needed to book my ticket in advance (due to Covid-19 regulations) and arrive at my scheduled time slot. It is an important example of a "schuilkerk", or "clandestine church" in which Catholics and other religious dissenters from the seventeenth century Dutch Reformed Church, unable to worship in public, held services. The eye is led naturally from Jacob de Wit’s altarpiece showing the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist up to the stucco of God the Father and the Holy Spirit, portrayed as a dove. We held an early Easter morning service (not quite sunrise, but almost) and then hosted an Easter Brunch. Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (OLHOS; English: Our Lord in the Attic) is a 17th-century canal house, house church, and museum in the city center of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The pulpit is swung into place in front of the altar by a two step movement, in which the difference in height between starting point and finish is ingeniously compensated for by a mechanical system of metal rails and hinges. The kids were crazy, one had to be removed, they ate too many biscuits, the smallest one tried to escape, and the parents struggled to concentrate! The Attic was established in the 1940's by a group of women from the Community Presbyterian Church. It was a nice change of pace and fit the needs of our church … Looking up, there are two levels of galleries and then I noticed something else. But once a visitor stepped through the hidden door in the living room, everything changed. In Amsterdam, there is a museum with a difference, that’s worth the time to visit, that reflects those times. Up another set of very steep, narrow stairs we arrived in the church. A wooden tube leads air from the bellows to the organ itself. After a quick bit of sustenance we were off to the Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder–translated to Our Lord in the Attic. The church is the museum’s centerpiece: a secret Catholic place of worship, the only one of its kind still practically in its original state. The clandestine church known in dutch as a schuilkerk was secreted away in the attic on purpose due to the persecution of catholicism in holland in the 17th century. Our Lord in the Attic was built in the mid-1600s in defiance of the Calvinists, but tolerated. A statue of the Virgin can be seen on the left of the this altar. (Our Lord in the Attic) → a hidden Catholic church tucked away in the attic of a 17th century merchant house. However it is difficult to distinguish if the movement of some objects is related to the organ being played or is due to vibrations caused by visitor movement, or even outside traffic. From the entrance, we walked down a steep set of stairs and then through a tunnel (underneath the road) and up another set of stairs. In fact, his talent earned him a place in the Dutch language - a person who ‘talks like Brugman’ can talk the hind legs off a donkey). And the most stunning Baroque altar dominates the far side of the church. This Catholic church dates from 1663. Mass is still performed here on a regular basis. It was built by Jan Hartman from 1661-1663 in the top stories of the three adjacent buildings. In 1951 monthly mass was reinstated by a group of artists from Amsterdam. Launch image viewer of church galleries and organ. On the first gallery, in the space near the organ, there is a glass showcase with ecclesiastical silverware. A final steep and narrow staircase leads to the second gallery. In 1888, the hidden church was officially opened to the public as a museum and is credited with being the second oldest museum in Amsterdam (Het Rijksmuseum is the oldest). A wealthy Amsterdam merchant, Jan Hartmann was a devoted Catholic. Visitors can reach both galleries via a staircase (1) in the church, which leads all the way up to from the antechamber to the two galleries. Telephone: (830) 914-3133. To the left of the pillar is a small digital screen with a video showing how the pulpit unfolds – do not miss this! Museum Ons'Lieve Heer Op Solder: Church in the Attic - See 3,373 traveller reviews, 1,749 candid photos, and great deals for Amsterdam, The Netherlands, at Tripadvisor. We abhor such actions, whether they be politically, racially or religiously based. They originally came from another clandestine church in Amsterdam. Besides the Baptism of Christ, these depict the Resurrection of Christ ‑ the altarpiece displayed at Easter - and the Descent of the Holy Spirit, for Whit sun. Sale this weekend 25% off everything including new shoes that just came in for men, women and kids. This was a 17th century group of three houses that had a complete church in the attic. When the church was created, they had to literally cut through the original beams in the attic, thus weakening the structure. The Attic serves the surrounding communities with previously owned, quality clothes and home furnishings at affordable prices. The church in the attic is the most extraordinary part of the museum. In the Attic” in which the children can learn about the origins of Christian holidays such as St Nicholas, Christmas, Easter and Whitsun. But then the house owner passed away and left a heap of debt. Today the Attic is housed in it's own building on the church grounds. It has doors which will make me feel very uncomfortable if I had to sleep there. This is the only way up and down from the second gallery. Museum Amstelkring, was opened to the public on 28 April 1888. Listen to the organ on the first gallery: The first gallery, opposite the altar, is dominated by the organ which was built especially for the church in 1794 by Hendrik Meyer. The museum is located on one of Amsterdam's many canals. Many new items in, plus special discount when you spin the wheel. Today the pulpit is considered too delicate for regular use and is almost never shown - it is used for Christmas mass only. Thank you everyone for your support we recently got over 100 likes. The Alteration of 1578 resulted in Amsterdam’s Catholic government being deposed in favour of a Protestant one. Catholics have been worshiping at De Oude Kerk in Amsterdam for a very long time, but now, after 1578, they were no longer able to do so. There is another secret within this secret church. It is absolutely awe-inspiring. He was the first priest to rent the attic church. These are metal ties holding the building together. The first two floors are typical of a 17th century merchant’s house. Above it, is a stucco image of God and the Holy Spirit. The altar\x92s blue damask antependium (curtain) is woven with symbols of the Virgin (the rose and crown). SHARE. These were private churches inside residential houses. Where, hidden away in the attic, is a magnificently miniature, fully-appointed Catholic church. He decided to convert his attic into a fully functional church in 1663. Starts Friday 2/12/2021-Monday 2/15/2021. Its present appearance dates from the second quarter of the eighteenth century, when the second gallery was extended, and the new altar was brought forward. Museum Our Lord in the Attic (previously called Museum Amstelkring) is one of the most cherished museums in Amsterdam with a special atmosphere that surprises every visitor. The beautiful canal house at 40 Oudezijds Voorburgwal has a secret: a hidden church in the attic! What looks like an ordinary canal house in the Red Light District turns out to be an entire hidden Catholic church. It is in fact made of wood and painted to look like marble. As was common in 17th and 18th century churches, this church has several paintings for above the altar. Cross section of the main house and the house at the back. The galleries housed the 'cheapest' seats. Catholics were banned from attending church (in public, anyway). This was added to the church around 50 years after it was created. At this time, Europe was controlled by the Roman Catholic Church but Protestantism started to take spread and take root. The focus of this “secret” Catholic church in the museum of Our Lord in the Attic is this altar. The focal point of the church is the Baroque altar (c. 1715). Formerly known as Het Hart, Our Lord in the Attic was built in the 17 th century home of wealthy merchant Jan Hartman and remained in use as a parish church for over 200 years. Several paintings (both on canvas and on panel) are hung on either side of the church, at floor level and on the first gallery level. The pulpit “folds up” into the left-hand side pillar! As space in the church had to be utilized efficiently, a clever mechanism was employed for a movable pulpit, which is stored in a cupboard fitted in the left column of the altar. During those times of Reformation when practicing Catholicism was considered against the law, Jan Hartman built a secret Catholic church in the attic of the house he had just purchased. When it is folded away, one would never suspect that it is there. Amsterdam church in the attic. The attic church had four interchangeable alter paintings, three of which have been preserved. In the lounge, look at the symmetry of the floor tiles and motives on the ceiling. Looking at this bed made me feel rather claustrophobic! Magnificent pillars round it all off. The Lord is indeed in the attic. Indeed, the church symbolises the characteristic (religious) tolerance of the Netherlands, established … Hours of service: Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00am until 2:00pm It will help make clear why the church was a secret and also why it was hidden in an attic. At first glance it looks like there is no pulpit – but there is . Now turn around and look out the window on the opposite side of the church. The organ's bellows, which are contained in a large cupboard in the corner. A Catholic Church hidden in the attic of a residential house in the heart of Amsterdam. One more thing not to miss: Go up to the gallery and stand to the left of the altar. On either side of the church, near to the altar, were the fixed benches for dignitaries (placed in 1737). The first priest here, was Petrus Parmenteer – there is a painting of him in the hallway. De Oude Kerk became Protestant. At the top, the altar culminates in stucco sculptures representing God the Father and the Holy Spirit surrounded by clouds and cherubs. There are front rooms, two kitchens and several other rooms. The entrance to the Church of Our Lord in the Attic in Amsterdam. This meant that Petrus was sadly booted out. The showcase is slightly unbalanced and the objects within rock gently when visitors walk in this area. The silver objects in the showcase show gradual movement in one direction over time. Recently, however, the museum purchased a replacement for this fourth altarpiece. It is however a full-size pulpit, hidden inside the pillar. Once you are inside and upstairs, it is hard to believe the transformation. Watch the video of the pulpit being unfolded, in the church. This church in the attic was created after Catholics were banned from De Oude Kerk (thus the past) and when Catholics could worship in the open again, St Nicholas was built (thus the future). The pulpit is made of mahogany, like the early nineteenth-century communion bench in front of the altar. An illusion of space is created by a combination of architecture, sculpture and painting. Across the room, from one gallery to the other (on the opposite side) are metal bars. The secret? The interesting thing about these pillars, is that it is not marble (even though it looks like marble). Our Lord In The Attic Is A Beautiful Hidden Church In Amsterdam. And so “schuilkerke” or “clandestine churches” were born. The church was accessed via a fake door hidden in the living room. The church has been open as a museum si… There are also several sculptures: a Pietà dating back to 1500; an 18th century glazed earthenware sculpture of Pulpit with Father Brugman (who was a fourteenth-century Franciscan principally known for his oratorical skills. The altar piece was painted around 50 years after the attic church was established. This of course, lead to a major change in how churches were used. When the organ is played, the balustrade on the first gallery resonates at certain pitches and some objects displayed in this area are known to ‘walk’. Lots of fantastic art is on display throughout the museum. This colorfully painted lime wood sculpture, carved around 1690, is part of the original inventory of the church. The solution was to install these ties. The building was originally constructed as a canal house, one of many of the row houses built along the Oudezijds Voorburgwal Canal in the 16th century. From here, a narrow staircase led visitors up to the stunning church in the attic. The church could ‘seat’ (in the early days there were no chairs) 150 people and was traditionally divided into sections to accommodate the different status of its congregation. From the outside, nothing is amiss; the exteriors of the canal houses blend in perfectly with their neighbors. Standing on the crescent moon holding the infant Christ, the Virgin Mary is crushing a serpent, symbolizing the devil. While it was prohibited to celebrate mass, the authorities turned a blind eye. When one looks out the window on that side of the room, one can see De Oude Kerk – literally the “past” for this church. The main highlight of the museum is the secret chapel our lord in the attic which you get to by walking up a steep and narrow staircase. . The house itself is about 400 years old, however exploring it is part of the charm as you know that there’s a church inside, but you need to keep climbing the stairs … An additional altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary is located behind the main altar of the church. 'Description of area' database (PDF, 664KB), Database area reference key (XLS, 571KB). live like a local but don't miss the highlights Church in the attic June 20, 2012 The latter one is an 18th century addition to allow a quick evacuation of the church goers. And then of course, there is the altar. And this fascinated me – I do love brilliant design. Not all the visitors climb to this highest point on the tour, which is not for the fainthearted. Launch image viewer of the statues in the church, Database area reference key (XLS, 571KB). The attic of this bourgeois house conceals a secret Catholic church, known as Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Dear Lord in the Attic), originally built in 1663, when Catholics lost their right to workship in their own way. The original fourth altarpiece showing the Crucifixion was lost. There is another staircase (5) which runs behind the altar from the 1st gallery down to confessional. Our Lord in the Attic is a clandestine church built on the top floors of three canal houses in central Amsterdam near the Red Light District. We were now in Jan Hartmann’s house. The three altar pieces are displayed in the room just behind the altar, adjacent to the Lady chapel. Let’s be honest Church in the attic doesn’t look that different to Church in a Church. On the right you can see the panel painting 'Descent from the Cross' by the studio of Pieter Coecke van Aelst (c. 1535). The tour costs €7 per adult , which you make with your brochure to explain each level. The date also reveals that this was the first altarpiece De Wit painted for a Catholic church in Amsterdam following his apprenticeship in Antwerp. In one of the kitchens, we looked at many ceramic pots, cups and bowls which were found in an old cesspit under the house during a 2013 excavation. Because the design for this altarpiece is dated 1716 and also gives the name of the resident priest at the time, Van Schayck, it can safely be asserted that the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan was made specifically for this church. A secret church The cupboard where it is normally stored is painted on the outside to resemble marble. Also, it is rather small – I can’t see how an average-height person can sleep there, fully stretched out. In The Attic. Several years ago (in a small church we pastored) we mixed up the "traditional" Easter basket up (so to speak). A massive altarpiece, depicting Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist, towers over the space. Apart from the hidden church, this house has a great deal to offer the historian! This includes the Maria Chapel, vestry and the confessional. The church is adorned with several interesting objects. In line with typical Dutch tolerance though, Catholics were still able to worship in private. Launch image viewer of the main floor of the church. This Catholic church in the Attic is an amazing museum visit while in the city of Amsterdam. Petrus was told that he could live there for the rest of his life. There is also the private quarters of the resident priest, with built-in box bed. Together with the altarpiece depicting the Son, the combination portrays the Holy Trinity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. After a short documentary film, we started exploring. But it was actually brilliant. The entrance to the museum is at the house next door to Jan Hartmann’s house. You might have passed this house and thought nothing of it, however Our Lord in the Attic is one of the last remaining hidden churches in Amsterdam. The Catholic Church was built on the top three floors of the canal house during the 1660s. This House Church was changed into a museum in 1888 (Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder) – Our Lord in the Attic. The two monochrome statues of apostles Peter and Paul in the church are among the most important of the museum collection. The church in the attic (Ons' lieve Heer op Solder) is a secret Catholic Church in the heart of Amsterdam, built in 1663. It was built by Jan Hartman from 1661-1663 in the top stories of the three adjacent buildings. His monogram can be seen on the back of the organ. By Harold Harker | July 1, 2011 . The size is surprising – much larger than I expected. This has been on my bucket list for a while, so I’m very excited to be able to go on this excursion. This allowed them to be exchanged appropriate to different times of the year: Christmas, Easter and Whit sun each had a particular subject. The church in the attic is the most extraordinary part of the museum. We wound up doing it several years. Everything in that room was created with balance and symmetry in mind.