museum
Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder
A hidden Catholic church in the attic of a 17th-century canal house in the old centre.
Photo: Flavio Pimentel / Google
In the heart of the old city centre, near the Oude Kerk, Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) hides an extraordinary secret: a complete Catholic church built across the top three floors of a 17th-century canal house. It's one of Amsterdam's oldest museums and one of its most unexpected.
After Protestants took control of the city in 1578, public Catholic worship was banned — so Catholics built hidden 'clandestine churches' in private homes, quietly tolerated by the city authorities.
What you'll see
You climb through beautifully preserved period rooms, kitchens with Delft tiles and living quarters before reaching the highlight: the attic church itself, spanning three houses, with an altar, an organ and seating for around 150 worshippers. The church was commissioned by wealthy Catholic merchant Jan Hartman and inaugurated in 1663. A modern wing, added in 2015 next door, houses the entrance and exhibitions.
Good to know
The museum opened in 1888, making it the second-oldest in Amsterdam after the Rijksmuseum. Be prepared for many steep, narrow stairs. It's open daily and only a few minutes' walk from Centraal Station.
Tips from locals
The attic church is the payoff — keep climbing through the period rooms to reach it.
Be ready for many steep, narrow stairs; it's a genuine 17th-century house, not a modern museum.
The free audio guide adds a lot of context to the rooms and the church's history.
It's a short walk from Centraal Station and the Oude Kerk, easy to fit into an old-centre wander.
Check the calendar — Mass is still occasionally held in the attic church.
Did you know?
It hides a complete Catholic church across the top three floors of a 17th-century canal house.
The attic church was inaugurated in 1663, when public Catholic worship was banned in Amsterdam.
Such hidden churches were called 'schuilkerken' — clandestine churches tolerated by the Protestant city government.
Opened in 1888, it's the second-oldest museum in Amsterdam after the Rijksmuseum.
The attic church can seat around 150 people and has its own organ.
FAQ
- What is Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder?
- A 17th-century canal house in the old centre with a complete hidden Catholic church in its attic.
- Where is it?
- At Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38-40, near the Oude Kerk, a few minutes from Centraal Station.
- Why is the church hidden?
- Public Catholic worship was banned after 1578, so Catholics built tolerated clandestine churches in private homes.
- How old is the museum?
- It opened in 1888, making it Amsterdam's second-oldest museum after the Rijksmuseum.
- Is it accessible?
- There are many steep, narrow stairs, which can make it challenging for some visitors.
Our Lord in the Attic, Amsterdam
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38, 1012 GE, Amsterdam