Oude Kerk

The Oude Kerk, set in the middle of Amsterdam's De Wallen red-light district, is the oldest surviving building in the city. Its origins reach back to the early 13th century; the current building was consecrated to St Nicholas from 1306 and expanded over the centuries into a triple-aisled hall church. With the Calvinist Reformation in 1578 it turned Protestant and became a burial site for sailors and citizens, including Rembrandt's first wife Saskia van Uylenburgh, whose grave slab lies in the nave. Around 10,000 people are buried under the wooden floor. Today the Oude Kerk hosts services as well as contemporary art exhibitions, concerts on the great Vater-Mueller organ and the annual World Press Photo festival.