Westerkerk (West Church)

Frommer's Review

Renaissance-style Westerkerk holds the remains of Rembrandt and his son, Titus. It's also where, in 1966, Princess (now Queen) Beatrix and Prince Claus said their marriage vows. The church was begun in 1620, at the same time as the Noorderkerk, and opened in 1631. The initial designer was Hendrick de Keyser, whose son Pieter took over after his father died in 1621. The church's interior, light and spacious, has a fine organ.

Get Amsterdam's best view by climbing the stairway or taking the elevator to the top of the Westertoren. The 85m (277-ft.) church tower, nicknamed "Lange Jan" (Long John), is Amsterdam's tallest, providing a spectacular panoramic view of the city -- and a 3cm (1-in.) sway on a windy day. On its top is the blue, red, and gold imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire, a symbol bestowed on the then Catholic city in 1489 by the Habsburg emperor Maximilian. You can climb the tower's 186 interior steps on a guided tour. The tower's carillon of 17th-century Hemony brothers bells is among the city's most lyrical.

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