Gone but not forgotten. That’s the story of the Sint Vincentiuskerk. This church once stood proudly where you’re standing now.
Let’s step back in time to the late 19th century. Amsterdam Oud-West was a newly developing neighborhood. The Catholic community needed a place to worship. In July 1899, they purchased land to build a church and school.
The Sint Vincentiuskerk was dedicated to Saint Vincent de Paul. He was a patron saint of charity. Architect C.P.W. Dessing designed the church in a Neo-Gothic style. In April 1900, the building contract was awarded in a cafe on Overtoom. A contractor agreed to build the complex for 181000 guilders.
Construction began and finished quickly. The Sint Vincentiuskerk was consecrated on October 7, 1901. It was built on the south bank of the Jacob van Lennep Canal. Imagine a grand basilica with three naves. A tall tower stood proudly beside the facade. The tower reached 67 meters high. It was the tallest tower in Catholic Amsterdam. It had an octagonal top with corner pinnacles and a spire. The surrounding houses were no more than four stories high. The Sint Vincentiuskerk dominated the skyline.
Sadly, the Sint Vincentiuskerk faced decline in the 20th century. The parish merged with other communities. These communities came from De Liefde and the Vondelkerk. Interestingly, Dessing’s teacher designed these churches.
In 1980, regular services stopped. In the spring of 1989, the Sint Vincentiuskerk was demolished. But the story doesn’t end there. A residential complex was built on this site. On the ground floor is a church for the community.
Today at Jacob van Lennepkade 211, you can find the new Vincentiuskerk. It is smaller than the original, of course. It’s located on the ground floor of the apartment building. The church is open at various times during the week. On Sunday mornings, a service is held at 11:00 AM. Coffee follows.
Although the original Sint Vincentiuskerk is gone, its spirit lives on. This location continues to be a place of worship and community. The current church may be more modest. It still carries the name and legacy of the Sint Vincentiuskerk. It is a reminder of the past and a beacon for the present.