About the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam:
The Co-cathedral Basilica of Saint Nicholas (Dutch: Co-kathedrale Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas, also known as Sint Nicolaaskerk or St. Nicholas Basilica) is the primary Roman Catholic church in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Saint Nicholas (of Myra) is the patron saint of Amsterdam, sailors, merchants, and children—fitting for a port city. This is the third church in Amsterdam dedicated to him: the first was the Oude Kerk (Old Church), originally Catholic and later Protestant after the 1578 Alteration. The second was a “hidden church” (schuilkerk) known as Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic).
After Catholics regained rights to build openly in the 19th century, construction of the current church began in 1884 and finished in 1887. Architect Adrianus Bleijs (1842–1912) designed it in a mix of Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles, diverging from the more common Neo-Gothic of the era. The building is oriented northwest–southeast due to the urban site. It was consecrated on February 7, 1887.
It received the title of minor basilica in 2012. In 2025, Pope Francis elevated it to co-cathedral status for Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. The bishop’s seat was installed on March 8, 2025, making Amsterdam an episcopal see alongside Haarlem’s St. Bavo Cathedral.
In 2021, it received a relic (a fragment of St. Nicholas’s rib) from Egmond Abbey.
The exterior has two flanking towers on the main façade (slightly asymmetrical to align with the street), a large rose window with a bas-relief of Christ and the Four Evangelists.
In a gable niche is a sculpture of St. Nicholas by Bart van Hove.
It has a prominent 190 foot (58-meter) octagonal tower with a Baroque dome and lantern topped by a cross, visible from many parts of the city.
The floor plan is a classic three-aisled cruciform (Latin cross) basilica with a nave, aisles, single transept, and choir. the interior has rich decorations, including murals and frescoes by Jan Dunselman (depicting the life of St. Nicholas, Stations of the Cross, and the Miracle of Amsterdam). There are statues by Pierre Elysée van den Bossche, Ornate vaults, side chapels (including to Mary and Joseph), stained glass, and a high altar. A Sauer organ (1889) is used for concerts and liturgy.
The church was restored in the late 1990s. Admission is free (donations appreciated..we always recommend giving something to help in the upkeep). Typical opening hours for visitors (check the website below, as they can vary): Generally Tuesday–Saturday ~11 AM–4 PM; Monday/Sunday shorter or limited (often noon–3 PM).
Masses are open to the public and are held regularly in Dutch, with English (Tuesdays) and Spanish (Fridays) options. Sunday High Mass often includes Gregorian chant. It also hosts concerts, events, and Sinterklaas-related activities.
Traveling to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam:
The Basilica stands prominently in the Old Centre district, directly opposite Amsterdam Centraal railway station on, near the Oudezijds Kolk canal.
Address: Prins Hendrikkade 73
Visit the official website of The Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam (in English).