Oude Kerk, Amsterdam

About

While it might be the oldest church in Amsterdam, the historic Oude Kerk is very much an art museum space too, with unique exhibitions, and spectacular temporary artworks featured throughout the year. Witness how years of Dutch history have been carefully preserved in the church's atmosphere medieval architecture. The church is also home to about 2,000 tombstones. Some of them mark an actual grave; the rest are monuments commemorating significant historical figures. One example is Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck; who lost his life in a naval battle with the Spanish fleet near Gibraltar in 1607. Another notable historical figure commemorated within the Oude Kerk's hallowed walls is composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621), renowned as the "Orpheus of Amsterdam." Of the many graves in the church, that of Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612-1642), Rembrandt's wife, is one of the most famous