Amsterdam, Holland: The Church of Our Lord in the Attic
The history of The Church of Our Lord in the Attic:
Today most of us live in a time of religious freedom, although we are seeing that freedom increasingly come under attack from secularist governments. That freedom can be lost if we take it for granted, and that is why we encourage you to visit this un-assuming building on one of the side streets of Amsterdam. It is a stark reminder of how people braved persecution when the practice of their faith was outlawed.
During the reformation Catholics were not allowed to worship in public, so they devised secret places in which to celebrate Mass.
Code names were given to these places so, for example, fellow Catholics might say “I am going to the parrot” as a way of letting others know where Mass was being celebrated. As a matter of fact, a life-size model of a parrot is found in the middle aisle of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Amsterdam.
The Church of Our Dear Lord in the Attic:
One of those hidden churches still survives as a museum and is well worth the visit. A businessman named Jan Hartman built a chapel in his home in 1661. It became known by the code name “the hart” after its owner but later on people began to call it Our Dear Lord in the Attic.
A re-construction project took place in 2014 and it has been restored to its original look. It is open daily Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed on April 27 (King’s Day). Hours on January 1st are 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Guided tours are available in English, Dutch, German and French.
There are Masses on Sunday.
Finding the Church of Our Lord in the Attic:
The Church of Our Lord in the Attic is quite easy to find. Unfortunately, it is on the edge of Amsterdam’s infamous red light district which provides a stark contrast.
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40, 1012 GE Amsterdam
GPS coordinates: 52° 22′ 30.2808” N, 4° 53′ 57.6636” E
Tel: +31 20 624 6604
e-mail: info@opsolder.nl
Click here for the official museum website of Our Dear Lord in the Attic in Amsterdam.
Photo credits Our Lord in the Attic museum.
