Sint Urbanuskerk

Nestled on the edge of Amsterdamse Bos, by De Grote Poel, the Sint Urbanuskerk stands as a testament to resilience and architectural brilliance. The Sint Urbanuskerk wasn’t always here. An earlier church building once graced this very spot. Then, in 1875, construction began on the Sint Urbanuskerk we see today. Designed by the renowned Pierre Cuypers, it was consecrated in 1888. Cuypers, known for his ability to fit churches into unconventional spaces, truly showcased his genius with the Sint Urbanuskerk. He designed a six-sided tower, over 65 meters high, which allowed the entrance to align perfectly with Noorddammerlaan, while the nave of the church follows the axis of Legmeerdijk. This unconventional alignment, where the altar isn’t oriented to the east, is a unique characteristic of the Sint Urbanuskerk. The tower bears a resemblance to the one Cuypers designed for the Sint-Bonifatiuskerk in Leeuwarden a few years earlier. The Sint Urbanuskerk is a three-aisled neo-Gothic hall church with a transept. Inside, a magnificent Adema organ, installed in 1930, once filled the church with music. This organ had two distinct fronts. Sadly, it fell into disrepair and was replaced in 1987 by an electronic organ, though the original remains in the tower. In 2002, a second organ, built in 1930 by Jules Anneessens, found a home in the north transept of the Sint Urbanuskerk. Tragically, in September 2018, a devastating fire ravaged the Sint Urbanuskerk. While the tower survived, the nave and chancel suffered extensive damage. The Anneessens organ, due to be inaugurated just the next day, was also heavily damaged. Despite this tragedy, the community rallied, and reconstruction began. The Sint Urbanuskerk arose from the ashes, a phoenix of faith and community spirit. The church was restored and reopened, a symbol of hope and perseverance. Even more, the interior of the Sint-Werenfriduskerk in Workum, a church slated for closure, found a new home within the Sint Urbanuskerk, a blending of histories and a continuation of sacred purpose. The Sint Urbanuskerk is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a beacon of community, a testament to resilience, and a symbol of enduring faith. It’s a story of loss and rebirth, woven into the very fabric of Amstelveen.