Westerkerk - church

This Reformed Church (1631) has a memorial plaque of Rembrandt. Its carillon has 48 bells by, amongst others, F. and P. Hemony (1658). City carilloneur Boudewijn Zwart plays the carillon. Guided tours are offered, and there are concerts.

Hendrick de Keyser, the city architect, built the church in Dutch Renaissance style, which is characterized by a combination of brick and stone. The long vertical lines are reminiscent of the Gothic style. The building is in the shape of a rectangle. Two rows of triplet-pillars support a clerestory in the form of a Greek cross. The church is 29 metres wide, 28 metres high, and has 36 windows. The nave is covered by a wooden barrel vault, of the type used extensively in coastal regions of the low countries, where the soft soil did not allow heavy vaulting. From 1985-1990 the church was completely restored. The electric chandeliers were then replaced by 12 replicas of the original chandeliers.

The Church is open Monday to Friday 11.00 am - 3.00 pm (April - October).