Remember the stories whispered about clandestine gatherings. The Antonius van Padua stands here now. It replaced a hidden church. This site holds layers of history.
The Antonius van Padua is officially the Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua. However it is better known as Mozes en Aäronkerk. Originally, Franciscan priests operated a clandestine church. It was in a house on Jodenbreestraat. Wall tablets of Moses and Aaron marked the spot.
In the first centuries after the Reformation, public Catholic displays were forbidden. Amsterdam officially banned them in 1660. In 1641, the Franciscans ventured into the Joodenbuurt. This was the Jewish Quarter. They opened a house church named “Moyses”. It was the second of its kind in the city.
In 1682, Dr. Johannes de Vroom bought the neighboring house “Aäron”. He also acquired the house behind it on the Houtgracht. A neighboring property owned by David Torres was also purchased. The twin houses became more famous than the hidden church. It was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. In 1690, Johannes de Vroom consolidated the four properties.
Expansion of the church had already begun. This was before the sale and city council permission. The entrance moved from Jodenbreestraat to the Houtgracht. The church was decorated in 1759. But it remained hidden until the early 19th century. Prohibitions against the Catholic Church were finally lifted.
A grander building replaced it between 1837 and 1841. In 1857, Mozes en Aäronkerk became a parish. This happened after the restoration of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the Netherlands. Gradually, parishioners moved to other parts of Amsterdam. The church lost its cemetery in 1866. It had been the first municipal cemetery in Amsterdam.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the church stood as a Catholic island. It was within a Jewish neighborhood. It served as a landmark during World War II. The parish of “Sint-Anthonius” was suppressed in 1969. But the church kept its official status.
After 34 years, the church was reconsecrated in 2014. Weekly Sunday mass resumed. The Community of Sant’Egidio now manages it. They use it as a center for charitable activities. Secular weddings and cultural events were suspended.
Tilman-François Suys designed the current building. It’s a “Water Management Church”. Construction occurred between 1837 and 1841. The style is neoclassicism. The facade’s twin towers resemble the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.
The statue atop the entrance depicts Christ blessing. Statues of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony of Padua once flanked him. These statues were lost during World War II. Columns are made of Bentheim sandstone.
The baroque altar dates from about 1700. It features a painting by Jacob de Wit. Depending on the liturgical calendar, other paintings were displayed. Side altars were designed in the same style. Reliefs of the Stations of the Cross adorn the walls.
Charles-Marie Philbert designed the church organ. It was built between 1869 and 1871. The Brothers Adema from Leeuwarden were the organ makers. It was the first organ in the Netherlands to use the Barker lever. Charles-Marie Widor and Camille Saint-Saëns played it.
The Latin inscription on the portal entrance reads: “What was under the sign of Moses and Aaron for centuries, has been renewed for the great glory of the Savior.” Franz Liszt was honored at the Antonius van Padua. It was after a performance of his “Graner Mass”. A plaque commemorates this event. A plaque also commemorates the December murders in Suriname.
Originally, the church reflected in the Leprozengracht and Houtgracht canals. These canals were filled in 1882. This created the Waterlooplein. The open-air market moved to the new square.
The Antonius van Padua stands as a testament to resilience. It represents faith and community. Its hidden history and architectural grandeur offer a glimpse into Amsterdam’s rich past.