A 150-kilogram bell tolls silently. It sits now in the Lutherkapel’s vestibule a relic from its past. This isn’t just any chapel. The Lutherkapel in Amsterdam stands as a testament to faith resilience and architectural ingenuity.
Built between 1929 and 1930 the Lutherkapel was commissioned by the Hersteld Evangelisch-Lutherse Gemeente. Their church council hesitated due to financial constraints. However leading businessmen under Pastor P Neideck formed a foundation to make it happen. The design? The brilliant work of Gerrit Jan Rutgers. He didn’t just design the chapel. He also designed several surrounding blocks on Euterpestraat and Bachstraat.
The Lutherkapel wasn’t a simple project. It was designed for production. A chapel with attached housing. The cost? A hefty 100000 guilders. Pastor Neideck laid the cornerstone on December 7 1929. The dedication ceremony? September 14 1930. He served as pastor here until his death in 1942.
The building’s exterior is striking. A high-pitched red tiled roof covers the entrances. These are located on either side of the Gerrit van der Veenstraat facade. The building features unique brick-formed windows. They are triangular on the Gerrit van der Veenstraat side and diamond-shaped on the Bachstraat side. A cross-shaped window graces the organ side. The western facade boasts a stained-glass dove a symbol of the Holy Spirit. This detail might remind you of the Atelier Bogtman style.
Inside the Lutherkapel the atmosphere is awe-inspiring. The word “chapel” might conjure images of a small space. But this is a large impressive church. Much of the interior remains in its original state. The space is square. Three sides feature spacious galleries with interconnected folding chairs. These could seat about 500 people. The organ gallery features the inscription “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”.
The seating is concentrically arranged. The focus is on a heavy wooden communion table. Behind it stands a dark heavy pulpit. The current occupants have added the word “Maranatha” on the wall behind the pulpit. The original organ built in 1931 featured three statues. A large Christ figure in the middle flanked by smaller statues of “Surrender” and “Dedication”.
The Lutherkapel has a rich musical history. The renowned Piet van Egmond served as organist from 1931 to 1938. He chose this position specifically to have access to a choir. He conducted Bach’s Matthew Passion using the Lutherkapel’s choir and his own choir “Cantate Dominum.” The chapel also hosted a “children’s church” and its own children’s choir. Van Egmond’s first performance of the Matthew Passion here in 1936 cost only 30 cents to attend.
Note the three lanterns hanging from the ceiling. They are among the chapel’s most prized possessions. Each features four rectangular frosted glass panels. An iron frame holds them. There are geometric decorations and four small opal globes hang below. Their designer remains unknown.
The gray painted ceiling gives the illusion of concrete rather than wood. This Lutherkapel is more than just a building. It’s a living breathing history. It is a place where faith music and architecture intertwine. It is a place that continues to inspire.