The Oude Kerk

This big Dutch Church of the State Reformed Congregation of Amsterdam was built in 1306. It was followed, a century later, by the “Nieuwe Kerk” which became more important because it was close to the Royal Palace (built by Jacob van Campen in 1648–1655). Amsterdam began in the thirteenth century as a fishermen’s village until 1240 when a dam was made in the river Amstel. It became an important city in 1300 and a very busy commercial center in the days of the German Emperor Charles V, who, in...