Doesn’t the name De Nieuwe Stad evoke a sense of fresh beginnings? Here at Luthuliplein in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, stands Kerkcentrum De Nieuwe Stad. It is more than just a church. It is a testament to unity and community spirit.
De Nieuwe Stad emerged from a need for change. The original geloofscentrum was tucked away beneath a Gliphoeve garage. That was at winkelcentrum Ganzenhoef. Back then, Amsterdam-Zuidoost often hid its places of worship. They were in unconventional spots like schools. As the area underwent renovations in the early 90s, the municipality bought the old church. They wanted to enable the community to build a new one.
In 1991, plans took shape for the first above-ground church. These plans considered whether the new building could house multiple religious groups. This was due to declining church attendance. The Gereformeerde Kerk, Rooms-Katholieke Parochie, Hervormde Gemeente, Evangelische Broedergemeente, and Evangelisch-Lutherse Gemeente joined forces. They united under one roof. Dominee C.P.T. Rijper oversaw the construction.
Architects Lucien Lafour and Rikkert Wijk designed De Nieuwe Stad. They were known for their work in urban renewal projects. However, they had never designed a church before. They created a building with two church halls. It also features a large hall and common spaces. It would not be a classic church with a tower. Construction costs were estimated at three million gulden in 1991.
De Nieuwe Stad officially opened on September 4, 1993. The costs had risen to almost four million. Other religious groups also requested usage. However, differences in religious expression caused friction. The final result was more of a meeting place than a traditional church. A central square encourages meeting and farewells. The structure combines brick, concrete, and generous amounts of glass. The detached metal bell tower is striking.
Over time, migrant churches began using the space on weekends, especially Sundays. Services run continuously from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm. The name De Nieuwe Stad comes from the Book of Revelation. Specifically, it references chapter 21, verse 10 onwards. Eventually, the Gereformeerde Kerk and Hervormde Gemeente merged. They became the Protestantse Gemeente Bijlmermeer or PGB.
De Nieuwe Stad is in the Gulden Kruis neighborhood. It sits at the corner of Groesbeekdreef and Bijlmerdreef. The location was named Luthuliplein in 1995. It was named in honor of Albert Luthuli.
Kerkcentrum De Nieuwe Stad hosts four religious groups. It is home to over thirteen diverse religious communities. It is a sanctuary. People find refuge and support here. The main hall buzzes with activity throughout the week, not just on Sundays. Church members gather around noon to prepare and share meals. The aroma of home-cooked food fills the air. These lunches are open to all. They serve an important social function. They nourish both body and spirit. By offering meals and hospitality, De Nieuwe Stad combats isolation. It fosters community. It positively impacts the Bijlmermeer community.
Listen to the organs. The larger hall features an organ built in 1969. Van den Berg & Wendt originally made it for the Chr. Lyceum West. It was installed in De Nieuwe Stad in 1993. The smaller hall has an organ from 1974. A. Fonteijn built it for the original Gereformeerde Kerk. It moved to Luthuliplein in 1993.
Please take a moment to appreciate De Nieuwe Stad. It is a place where diverse communities converge. They share faith, food, and fellowship. It stands as a beacon of unity in the heart of Amsterdam-Zuidoost.