Nieuwe Kerk

Nieuwe Kerk tickets: which one to buy

The New Church, the Nieuwe Kerk, stands on the Spui in the centre of The Hague, Netherlands, a short walk from the Binnenhof parliament buildings and the Mauritshuis museum, and it is now used mainly as a venue for concerts, conferences and events rather than regular worship. Visiting is possible during events, open days and occasional exhibitions, so check the programme before going. The churchyard, with the grave and statue of the philosopher Baruch Spinoza, is accessible at other times.

Walking tours of The Hague combine the church with the Binnenhof, the Mauritshuis, where Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring hangs, the Peace Palace and the Escher in Het Paleis museum. The Hague is about twenty minutes from Rotterdam and fifty minutes from Amsterdam by train. The church is a short walk from The Hague Central Station. Concert tickets are sold online and at the door, and the programme includes classical and choral music.

Visiting Nieuwe Kerk: what to see

The church was built between 1649 and 1656 for the Protestant community of The Hague, which had outgrown the Great Church, and it was one of the first churches built for Protestant worship in the Netherlands. It was designed by Pieter Noorwits and Bartholomeus van Bassen in a Dutch classicist style, with a centralised plan of two squares joined together and a small tower with a carillon. The interior is simple and bright, with a wooden roof, a pulpit and organs, reflecting the Protestant emphasis on preaching. The church's acoustics make it an excellent concert venue. The philosopher Baruch Spinoza, who lived in The Hague and died in 1677, is buried in the churchyard, and a monument marks the site.

Other notable figures, including Constantijn Huygens, the poet and diplomat, are buried in the church. The church's tower carillon plays tunes over the Spui. The pulpit, carved in the seventeenth century, stands at the centre of the church. The church's windows are clear, filling the interior with light. Memorial slabs of notable families are set into the floor. The churchyard's trees and lawns create a small park in the city centre. Spinoza's grave is marked by a simple stone with a Latin inscription. The organ, built by the Bader family, has been restored. The church's exterior is built of brick with stone decorations.

Nieuwe Kerk opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open for events and concerts, and occasionally for visits during open monument days in September. The Hague is busy in summer, when the beach at Scheveningen draws crowds, and during political events. King's Day in April and Prince's Day in September, when the king rides in a golden carriage to open parliament, bring celebrations to the city centre. Winter is mild and rainy. Allow about fifteen minutes to see the exterior and the churchyard, and longer if the church is open, then walk to the Binnenhof and the Mauritshuis. The Binnenhof, home of the Dutch parliament, is a few minutes' walk away, though parts are closed during a long renovation.