Wester Kerk

Wester Kerk

Charles de Lanoy

The necessity to undertake the construction of additional churches was the inevitable result of the 1613 urban expansion project. In 1620, therefore, a decision was made to build two churches, the Noorderkerk and the Westerkerk. The Westerkerk was planned as a large church catering for the religious needs of the inhabitants of the northern part of the ring of canals. A smaller church, the Noorderkerk, was designed for church-goers in the Jordaan area, a far less prestigious neighbourhood just outside the ring of canals. On September 9, 1620 the foundation stone for the Westerkerk was laid.