Noorderkerk, Protestant church building in Jordaan, Netherlands.
The Noorderkerk is a Protestant church in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, built on an octagonal floor plan shaped like a Greek cross, with four equal arms meeting at a central point. At each corner of the cross stands a small separate building, making the overall shape clearly readable from the outside.
Construction started in 1620 based on plans by Hendrick de Keyser, who died before the church was completed, and it was finished by his son Pieter. It was built to serve the growing number of workers and craftspeople who had moved into the newly developed Jordaan district.
The Noorderkerk still holds regular Protestant services, which sets it apart from many old churches in Amsterdam that have been converted to other uses. On Saturdays, an organic market fills the square in front of it, making the area a social spot for locals and visitors alike.
The Noorderkerk sits right on the Noordermarkt square in the heart of the Jordaan, easy to reach on foot from the surrounding canals. Since the church is still in active use, it is worth checking in advance whether it is open to visitors on the day you plan to go.
The Noorderkerk was the first church in Amsterdam designed from the start for Protestant worship rather than adapted from an existing Catholic building. Its floor plan, which places all worshippers roughly the same distance from the pulpit, directly reflects the Protestant idea that the spoken word should reach everyone equally.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
