Consider this. A chapel stood here between 1440 and 1450. This is the Sint Olofskapel. It is one of Amsterdam’s oldest chapels.
The Sint Olofskapel got its name from Saint Olof. He is the patron saint of seafarers. He was also a King of Norway. Saint Olof spread Christianity there.
Originally, the Sint Olofskapel was built next to the Sint Olofspoort. This gate dated back to 1370. The gate was demolished in 1618. However, the street name remains Sint Olofspoort.
Around the end of the 15th century, the Sint Olofskapel grew. The Jeruzalemkapel was added. It held a copy of the Holy Grave in Jerusalem. The Jeruzalemkapel was demolished in 1644.
After Amsterdam’s Alteration in 1578, the building was empty for a while. From 1586, merchants used it as an exchange. In 1602, it became a Reformed church. It was then known as the Oudezijds Kapel. The Nieuwezijds Kapel was on Rokin. It was demolished in 1908.
The Sint Olofskapel was expanded in 1644. This created the building you see today. It is a three-aisled church. Its floor plan is not completely symmetrical.
The Sint Olofskapel once had a small wooden tower. It got a clock in 1543. A fire destroyed the tower in 1820. It was never rebuilt.
After the last church service in 1912, the Sint Olofskapel had different uses. In the 1950s, it hosted a weekly cheese market. In 1964, the city closed it due to collapse risk. The Sint Olofskapel fell into disrepair.
In 1966, a fire largely destroyed the Sint Olofskapel. For years, the boarded-up ruin marred the Zeedijk area. In 1969, a temporary roof protected the remains. Archaeological excavations began that same year.
In 1991, the city bought the Sint Olofskapel. It was then restored. Today, the Sint Olofskapel serves as a conference center. It belongs to the Barbizon Palace hotel. An underground corridor connects them.
Michiel de Ruyter was a regular here. This famous admiral lived nearby. His reserved church bench is still here.
The entrance gate on Zeedijk is striking. Hendrick de Keyser created it in 1620. It features a skeleton and Latin words. They translate to “Hope of a life beyond.” This symbolizes the chapel’s role as a graveyard. Many important Amsterdam citizens were buried here from 1600 to 1850.
The Sint Olofskapel stands as a testament to Amsterdam’s rich history. Its walls have witnessed centuries of change. From a Catholic chapel to a merchant exchange to its present-day use, the Sint Olofskapel continues to evolve.