Westerkerk (West Church)

Frommer's Review

The Renaissance-style Westerkerk holds the remains of Rembrandt, his mistress Hendrickje Stoffels, and probably his son Titus, all in unmarked graves. It's also where, in 1966, Princess (now Queen) Beatrix and Prince Claus said their marriage vows. The church was begun in 1620 and opened in 1631, with Hendrick de Keyser as the initial designer, whose son Pieter took over after Hendrick's death in 1621. In the church's light and spacious interior is a fine organ.

Get Amsterdam's best views by climbing the 186-step stairway or taking the elevator to the top of the Westertoren, on a guided tour. 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 3-centimeter (1-in.) sway on a windy day. On its top is the Holy Roman Empire's blue, red, and gold imperial crown, a symbol bestowed on the then-Catholic city in 1489 by the Habsburg emperor Maximilian. The tower's carillon of 17th-century Hemony brothers bells is among the city's most lyrical.

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