Oude Kerk, Amsterdam

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 3 September 2009 in Cityscape & Urban.

The Oude Kerk, the oldest church of Amsterdam, seen from a different perspective (we've already seen it here).

Unfortunately all décor felt victim to iconoclasts in the 16th century. After a checkered history today it is a well restored but mainly empty building, located inmidst the red light district of Amsterdam. The Dutch Wikipedia article has some good photos of its interior and the complex roof geometry (roofs like this would be impossible in regions with snowfall: this kind of roof would immediately collapse under heavy load).

This and other great churches of Amsterdam are no longer used for religious services. Many of them turned into museums or exhibition halls (some of them even were sold) and you will have to pay an entrance fee. What that could mean will be considered in another posting.

Download my coffee-table book of selected postings here. Enjoy!

Comments (10)

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

You found a good position to shoot this one and have that steeple so clearly etched on the sky! It's a beautiful effect and the clouds contribute to it! The building on the left side has beautiful architectural decorations, so that the sober style of the building on the right does not disturb the composition at all! Still...the eyes go to the church steeple!

3 Sep 2009 5:50am

@Japanalia: Most of the buildings in the old town are in a very good shape. In many streets you could see craftsmen working in many buildings, something that looks quite irritating, as landlords in Germany often neglect their houses.

Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand

Wow great composition and what a cool place!!! fantastic shot!!

3 Sep 2009 6:42am

@Linerberry: Thanks, LB! Amsterdam is the city of towers and steeples, important landmarks that help you not to get lost.

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Beautiful church and building on the left. A nice point of view from there and you have captured also the people in the street.

3 Sep 2009 11:10am

@akarui: Thanks very much, Olivier!

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

This is absolutely outstanding!!!

3 Sep 2009 11:39am

@Ana Lúcia: Many more sights similar to this are possible there. I'll show some more. :-)

MARIANA from Waterloo, Canada

Super POV ! colors and processing .

3 Sep 2009 4:26pm

@MARIANA: Many thanks, Mariana! Grey and worn buildings are fortunately quite seldom here, most of them were in a good shape.

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

An interesting mix of symbols.

3 Sep 2009 8:57pm

@Twelvebit: The "XXX" is the emblem of Amsterdam (three St. Andrew's crosses).

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

Is that a camera at the top ?

4 Sep 2009 12:05am

@JoeB: Probably not. Most buildings there have gibbets for drawing up bulky goods.

PD from Overland Park, Kansas, United States

NIce POV - good job on the sky!

4 Sep 2009 12:41am

@PD: Thanks a lot, PD!

Steven from Chicagoland, United States

The church sure made its presence known in this neighborhood. Surprising how intricate the architectural detail gets even high up in the air.

4 Sep 2009 1:43am

@Steven: While both cathedrals in the centre of the city are quite large (but not so high), the emphasis here clearly lies in height which could be seen as an attribute of distinction. That's probably why.