ONS' LIEVE HEER OP SOLDER (Our Lord in the Attic)

If you recall after 1578 Catholics were no longer allowed to practice their religion in Amsterdam.  Of course there were ways to get around that and this provided such a place.  Behind the facade of the house by the canal lies a complete hidden church.

                                              

In 1661, a wealthy merchant named Jan Hartmaan bought a stately canal house and two houses behind it.  A devout man whose son was studying for the priesthood, Hartman included a fine Catholic chapel in his new property.  The rest of the house was used as liviing space for his family.

The hidden church occupied the entire top floor of the canal house and the two houses behind it.  The house and church underwent some renovations in 1739 after the priest Ludovicus Reiniers purchased the property.  He added another stairway to the church, rebuilt the face and removed a stag which had hung outside. The church had been known as "the Hart" prior to the renovations and became known as "Our Lord in the Attic" after they were complete.  

The church was dedicated to St. Nicholas, taking the patronage stripped from the Oude Kerk at the Alteration.  

In 1887, the large St. Niklaaskerk was dedicated, replacing Our Lord in the Attic as the local parish church.  A group of Catholics pooled their funds to purchase the hidden church, saving it from demolition.  A year later it was opened to the public, making it the oldest museum in Amsterdam after the Rijksmuseum.  

This is the drawing room which was designed by the wealthy to receive and impress guests.  It's stately furnishings make it one of the most impressive 17th-century rooms left in Amsterdam.  A copy  of it has even been constructed in Japan.

This is the Livingroomwhich served as a bedroom at night.

Cute little cupboard bed.

The view of the canal from one of the front windows.

The Church!

                                    

                                             

Behind the altar is the "Mary Room".  It was used by brides and to the side of the altar is a small chair called "the Blessing Chair" where brides would sit and recieve a blessing after the ceremony and her bouquet would be left at the altar.

                                      

The Sacristy.

A view out the window of the Oude Kerk.

A beautiful organ!

I think this is the view the poor people saw from their seats on the third balcony.  That's where I'd be sitting!

A view from the house of the St. Niklaaskerk, the new Catholic Church.

A view again from the windows.  At one

time you could see the masts of ships from this window.

After we completed our tour we meandered home.

I took this picture of Central Station.  Very impressive and I think you forget that when you are busy catching a rain or rushing home after a trip.

A Carnival on Damn Square.

                                     

The weather is nice - everybody's out.

Our little corner bar was packed...

                                            

We called it a night!