Boomkerk, Roman Catholic church in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Boomkerk is a Roman Catholic church in the Bos en Lommer area of Amsterdam, housed in a brick building with a tall square tower topped by a sharp spire. Round arches, thick walls, and large stained glass windows give the interior a sense of height and openness.

The parish began in 1578 as a hidden church called ’t Boompje, used by Franciscans in a former brewery at Kalverstraat. After the old building was closed and demolished in 1910 to make room for urban growth, the current church was opened in 1911 and designed by Peter Bekkers.

The name “De Boom” recalls a time when a large tree stood in front of the earlier hidden church, and many locals still use this nickname. Inside, the old organ and paintings carry the memory of the community’s move from a small, concealed meeting place to this larger building.

Visitors can reach the site by tram or bus, then walk a few minutes from the nearby stops. Once inside, the space feels quiet and open, so it is best to move slowly and look upward to notice the details in the glass and stone.

Before this church was built, the parish used a building on Kalverstraat, a busy shopping street in the center of Amsterdam, where a department store later stood. When the city expanded, the congregation sold that valuable property and used the money to build this new place of worship further west.