Oud Gereformeerde Gemeente

Could a church’s demise be linked to a hidden distillery? Right here in Amsterdam, the Oud Gereformeerde Gemeente on Commelinstraat met an unusual end. This Oud Gereformeerde Gemeente, established in 1941, originally belonged to the Christelijk Gereformeerde Gemeente in Amsterdam-Oost. After the departure of their pastor, G. Wisse, a segment of the congregation transitioned to the Oud Gereformeerde Gemeenten in Nederland (OGGN) in 1949. This marked a significant shift for the Oud Gereformeerde Gemeente, bringing them under the umbrella of a larger denomination. But their journey took an unexpected turn. The Oud Gereformeerde Gemeente ceased to exist in 1968. The reason? An illicit jenever distillery was discovered in the church building’s basement. This scandalous discovery led to the church’s closure, and the congregation, known informally as ‘Gereformeerde Gemeenten onder de kruik’ (a play on their official name and the Dutch word for jug), dispersed. Another Oud Gereformeerde Kerk existed in Amsterdam, but its lifespan was also relatively short. This congregation was dissolved in 1947. The Looiersgrachtkerk, initially built in 1894 for the Oud Gereformeerde Kerk, later housed different denominations. In 1922, it became part of the Christelijk Gereformeerde kerk, then was sold, and eventually in 1933 was purchased by the Gereformeerde Gemeente. This demonstrates the changing religious landscape of Amsterdam and the various congregations that occupied the same space. While the Oud Gereformeerde Gemeente on Commelinstraat dissolved in 1968, its story remains a peculiar chapter in the history of Amsterdam’s religious communities.