English Reformed Church, Amsterdam, Protestant church in Begijnhof, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The English Reformed Church is a Protestant place of worship tucked inside Amsterdam's historic Begijnhof courtyard, with a simple brick exterior that reveals little from the street. Inside, the space features large windows that brighten white-washed walls, wooden benches in neat rows, and a restrained layout that focuses attention toward the pulpit.
This chapel was built to serve English-speaking Protestants who needed a place to worship when their faith faced restrictions in the wider city. Over time it grew into an organized congregation with formal ties to the Church of Scotland and the Protestant Church Netherlands.
The congregation brings together worshippers from many different countries who gather for regular services and share community meals in the courtyard. This international character reflects the place's long role as a refuge for people seeking freedom to practice their faith.
The entrance is through a gate on Gedempte Begijnensloot street rather than from Spui Square, since the building sits tucked within the courtyard. Visitors can expect to share the space with the regular congregation, and it helps to arrive a bit early to find your way through the narrow passages of the Begijnhof.
The congregation publishes a magazine called The Record that keeps members connected across continents and also funds development work at a hospital in Malawi. This outreach shows how a small neighborhood chapel has grown into a network with real impact far beyond Amsterdam.
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