Nieuwe Kerk
HISTORY OF THE NIEUWE KERK
Amsterdam’s best known, and most often visited church stands in the heart of the city, next to the Royal Palace on the Dam Square. Anyone entering for the first time will probably question the name of this ancient building: De Nieuwe Kerk (the New Church).
In the 15th century, the city was expanding rapidly and the old church on the ‘old side’ of the Damrak could no longer welcome the growing number of churchgoers, therefore a second parish church on the ‘new’ side of the city was build. In the late 16th century, the former catholic congregation became Dutch Reformed after it fell prey to the iconoclasts. After three fires the church resembled a ruin and the people of Amsterdam banded together to restore and beautify the church.

ART IN THE NIEUWE KERK
In the 17th century, the celebrated sculptor Albert Vinckenbrinck was given the commission to create a new pulpit. A superb new organ was installed, with a case designed by Jacob van Campen and painted by Jan Gerritsz. van Bronckhorst. A brass choir screen was ordered from Johannes Lutma, who produced a true masterpiece. Over the years various additions were made, such as the magnificent stained-glass windows. Many famous and less well-known figures from Dutch history are buried in the church in elaborately decorated tombs, among them Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.

Since almost two centuries, the Nieuwe Kerk functions as the inaugural church for Holland’s kings and queens. King Willem I (1814), Willem II and Willem III, Regentess Emma, and Queens Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix all proceeded with their retinue from the Royal Palace to De Nieuwe Kerk to take the oath of allegiance to the nation.

Besides being the venue for the royal inaugurations, the national remembrance service for the Second World War is held each year on May 4.

The last royal wedding to take place in the Nieuwe Kerk, was on February 2, 2002, between the heir to the throne, Prince of Orange, Willem Alexander, and Máxima Zorreguieta.

CULTURE IN THE NIEUWE KERK
After a restoration period of some twenty years, the Nieuwe Kerk opened its doors again at the end of the 70’s. However, as a result of the decline in churchgoing, the pews remained empty. The Reformed Congregation, which owned the building, could no longer meet the costs of care and maintenance, and in 1979 the National Foundation the Nieuwe Kerk was founded. This foundation has gradually succeeded in transforming the church into an active and flourishing cultural center. De Nieuwe Kerk has become a model of how to make good use of a historic building that has lost its original function. The church is also used for organ- and choral concerts. Renowned organists frequently play the historic instruments. The concerts at Christmas and New Year are annual events, which attract large and loyal audiences.

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Hermitage The first phase of the brand new Hermitage Amsterdam opened to the public on February 28, 2004 with an exhibition on Greek Gold. The new museum is located in The Amstelhof, a 17th century building. The Neerlandia Building (part of Amstelhof) is the first phase of the master plan for the Hermitage Amsterdam. Small temporary exhibitions drawn from the rich collection of The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg will be presented in six exhibition galleries. Each exhibition will be on view for around five months.

Facilities include a museum shop, a café and a large educational studio for children. It is expected that by the end of 2007 all of the Amstelhof, with a total exhibition floor space of over 43,000 square feet, will be in use by the Hermitage Amsterdam.

The next exhibition, in 2005, will feature Venetian paintings with masterpieces by Tintoretto, Guardi, Canaletto and Tiepolo. The exhibitions in Hermitage Amsterdam will explore the themes of anthropology, history and art.

For more information please contact:

Hermitage Amsterdam
Nieuwe Herengracht 14
1018 DP Amsterdam
The Netherlands
T: +31-20 530.87.55
F: +31-20 530.87.50
E : mail@hermitage.nl
www.hermitage.nl

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Rijksmuseum, The MasterpiecesFrom December 2003 to 2008 the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam will undergo the biggest rebuilding, renovation and modernization program in its history. During this period the finest works from the 17th century in the Rijksmuseum will continue to be on view under the title The Masterpieces. The redesigned Philips Wing provides an opportunity to see 400 highlights of the Golden Age in surprising combinations.

The famous dolls’ houses, the finest Delftware, a wealth of silver, icons of Dutch history and of course the paintings by the great masters of the 17th century, Frans Hals, Jan Steen, Vermeer and Rembrandt, have a provisional new home in the Philips Wing. For many of these works this is the first time that they have left their place in the Rijksmuseum. Rembrandt’s Night Watch, for example, has rarely left the main building designed by Pierre Cuypers since it opened in 1885.

The miracle of the Golden Age: wealth, trade and burghers
The new presentation The Masterpieces is arranged according to distinctive themes. Central to this presentation is the story of the miracle of the Golden Age: the sudden and unprecedented rise in the prosperity and power of the young Republic of the Seven United Provinces, its leading international role as a trading nation, and the important position of the burghers. Historical icons such as Johan van Oldenbarnevelt’s cane, the book chest in which Grotius escaped from prison, the stern decoration from the captured English warship the Royal Charles, and models of the imposing tombs of the admirals Maarten Tromp and Michiel de Ruyter are just a few of the many objects which illustrate the themes. But paintings too, such as the great seascapes by Willem van de Velde, the portraits of Prince Maurice and King-Stadholder William III and the many views of distant and exotic places, give a picture of the remarkable role the Netherlands played in the world in the 17th century.

The 17th-century interior, Delftware and painting
Exceptional growth and quality was not limited to politics and economics. Dutch painting and decorative arts took on a character of their own in the 17th century and attained great heights.
The famous dolls’ houses inlaid with tortoiseshell owned by Petronella Oortman and Petronella Dunois reflect the richness of the 17th-century interior. The splendid silver treasure chamber in the Philips Wing uses work by such celebrated silversmiths as Lutma and the Van Vianen brothers among others to show how this field became one of the fine arts in the Golden Age. The renowned Delftware is presented in the context of the royal patrons King-Stadholder William III and Maria Stuart, both great lovers of this ware.

The masterpieces by the great 17th-century painters are arranged according to such themes as the early landscape, genre pieces, the Delft school and early and late Rembrandt. Fifteen works by Rembrandt and all four paintings by Vermeer in the Rijksmuseum collection are on display. Besides Rembrandt and Vermeer, there are old favorites like Winter landscape by Hendrick Avercamp, The Merry Family by Jan Steen, the Marriage Portrait of Isaac Massa and Beatrix van der Laen by Frans Hals, The Mill at Wijk van Duurstede by Jacob van Ruisdael and River landscape with riders by Aelbert Cuyp. Rembrandt’s greatest masterpiece, the Night Watch, is in the last room of the exhibition.

The design of The Masterpieces in the Philips Wing
For the presentation of The Masterpieces in the Philips Wing subdued colors and transparent display cases have been chosen. A striking feature of the design is the splendid decoration of the walls: satin-finish patterns inspired by 17th-century damask. Visitors will shortly be able to go round the display following a clear and fixed route, which takes into account the capacity of the Philips Wing.

The Rijksmuseum elsewhere
The Rijksmuseum is organizing various exhibitions at home and abroad between 2004 and 2008. Moreover, parts of the Rijksmuseum collection will be seen in 10 other museums in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium from 2004. For more information go to www.rijksmuseum.com

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RIJKSMUSEUM AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL AIRPORTVisit the only airport museum in the world!

The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is located inside the airport terminal, after passport control, on Holland Boulevard, the corridor connecting Piers E and F. The museum is open daily from 7 am to 8 pm and admission is free.

Ten works by famous masters of the Dutch Golden Age such as Jacob van Ruisdael, Ferdinand Bol and Jan Steen are permanently on display in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Different temporary exhibitions are held several times a year.

The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is a unique joint initiative by the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The Rijksmuseum is the first museum in the world to have a branch at an airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol the first airport to house a museum inside its terminal.

The Museum Shop located beneath the museum offers high quality souvenirs made especially for the museum.

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Miniature city Madurodam, all of Holland in just one city! The world-famous miniature city Madurodam, which is located within a stone's throw of Amsterdam and the bulb fields, is an excellent place to familiarize with all the surprising features The Netherlands has to offer.

The Alkmaar cheese market, the Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam, the Peace Palace of The Hague, the Royal Palace on the Amsterdam Dam Square, the Cathedral Tower of Utrecht, the canal houses of Amsterdam, and parts of the Delta works, everything Holland is famous for can be found replicated to the smallest detail on a scale of 1:25. All of this is set in beautiful flower gardens.

Madurodam is full of movement. At the new Amsterdam Airport Schiphol you will encounter moving aircraft, people waiting in the arrivals and departure halls and even an ultra-modern people mover.
Windmills turn, tour boats move down canals, fire-fighters are extinguishing a fire in the harbour, modern trains traverse the city on the world’s largest miniature railway.

Madurodam: worth a visit all year round!

Opening hours 2005
September 1, 2004 – March 23, 2005:
09.00 - 18.00 hrs.March 24, - June 30, 2005:
09.00 - 20.00 hrs.July 1, - August 31, 2005:
09.00 - 22.00 hrs.September 1, - December31, 2005:
09.00 - 18.00 hrs.
The ticket counters close one hour earlier.

Prices of admission 2005


Adults
€ 12.00Children 3-11 years
€ 8.75*Seniors 65+
€ 11.00
Madurodam guidebook included (available in 11 languages)* 'Madurodam passport' included

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