- Nieuwe Kerk is also the name of various other churches, such as the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft.
Nieuwe Kerk is a landmark church in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Nieuwe Kerk is Dutch for "New Church". While it's name may suggest recent origins, Nieuwe Kerk was started in the 14th century when Holland was still predominantly Catholic. It was intended as a Catholic cathedral to be consecrated St. Mary and St. Catharine, however, it never became a Catholic cathedral as Holland officially accepted Reformed Christianity before construction was finished.
Since then, Nieuwe Kerk has played a large role in Dutch history. Whenever a new Dutch monarch is crowned, the coronation takes place in Nieuwe Kerk. Nieuwe Kerk is also the burial location for many of Holland's famous military leaders. Famous leaders interred in Nieuwe Kerk include Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, Admiral Charles Jacob Berghuis, and Jan van Speyk.
Holland, like the rest of Europe has become more secular in recent years, and as a result, Nieuwe Kerk has a new more secular role in Amsterdam. In addition to being a tourist site, Nieuwe Kerk also has exhibitions and classical music recitals.
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