One would think it least likely that a red-light district should surround a religious temple of such scale and grandeur. Yet the connection has existed for centuries, the red-light district having been located around this area since the Middle Ages. And the sailors whose ships anchored in the Amsterdam harbor during the Golden Age would pay a visit to the prostitutes before being absolved of their sins at the Old Church. The church was founded around and was consecrated by the bishop of Utrecht with Saint Nicholas as its patron saint.
The Oude Kerk is the only remaining church in Amsterdam that was built as, and until the Reformation acted as, a Catholic church. During the Reformation, statues were removed, frescoes painted over, ceremonial silver stolen or melted down, and the Catholics driven to hold their services in clandestine churches such as Our Lord in the Attic [2]. In addition to religious purposes, the church also fulfilled secular ones. Fishermen repaired their sails and nets here and it acted as a meeting point for citizens and merchants, where they could exchange thoughts or wander around while the organist played.
These days the church is a favorable venue for weddings, exhibitions and concerts. Weddings have taken place here since the Middle Ages. The door contains a small peephole window called 'judas', through which curious onlookers could spy on the couple.
The square surrounding the Old Church, called Oudekerksplein, originally acted as a graveyard. In the graveyard was cleared and moved to a new location beyond the city walls, and the present square was created.
Around the back of the Oude Kerk there are some 35 windows from behind which prostitutes offer their services. By the municipality intends to remove all brothels from the square and replace them with restaurants, boutiques and arts and crafts galleries.
