1. Overview
Explore the impressive St. Nicholas Basilica, including its architecture, interior artwork, and essential visitor information.
Head a few steps south of Amsterdam Central Station, and there it is just a few hundred meters to the left, St. Nicholas Basilica (Basiliek van de H. Nicolaas). It is one of the first city landmarks most visitors spot. However, it is mystifying that this majestic church, which towers over its street, is so frequently overlooked. Indeed, its popularity is dwarfed by that of the other historic churches in Amsterdam.
Architect Adrianus Bleijs constructed the cruciform church between 1884 and 1887 during a time when neo-Gothic architecture was favored for Catholic churches. Visitors need only look behind them—at P.J.H. Cuyper’s Central Station, completed in 1889—for an example of the typical neo-Gothic architecture of the day. At 58 meters (190 feet) tall, the rear dome is one of the most salient features of the church, showcasing a harmony of neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance elements. Two shorter towers rise from either side of the church’s entrance.
In 2012, 125 years after it was consecrated, the church was designated as a basilica.
2. Interior of St. Nicholas Basilica
The art within the church’s interior displays an array of styles and artists. One notable artist is the Flemish sculptor Perre van den Bossche, whose Classicism- and Baroque-inspired sculptures adorn the altars and pulpit of the church. His studio is most famous for creating the Gouden Koets, the chariot that transports the Dutch queen to her annual address to the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives on Prince’s Day.
The walls of the church are home to the life’s work of Dutch painter Jan Dunselman, renowned for his Stations of the Cross. The Sint Nicolaaskerk contains an example of Dunselman’s Stations, contributing a unique piece to the church. Furthermore, his illustration of the Eucharistic Miracle of Amsterdam is prominently displayed in the left transept arm of the church.
3. Sint Nicolaaskerk (St. Nicholas Basilica) Visitor Information
Address: Prins Hendrikkade 73, 1012 AD Amsterdam
- Free admission
- Directions: St. Nicholas Basilica is conveniently located directly across the street from Amsterdam Central Station. From the south side of the station, head left on Prins Hendrikkade; the church is on the opposite side of the street.
