by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021
Nieuwe Kerk on the Dam Square in Amsterdam. The Royal Palace is on the left; Photo – © Susan Flantzer
The Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which this writer has visited, is located on the Dam Square next to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Originally a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and later to St. Catherine of Sweden, the church became a Dutch Reformed Church after the Protestant Reformation. The current Dutch royal family belongs to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. It was formed in 2004 by the merger of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Netherlands.
The Nieuwe Kerk is no longer used for church services and has been converted into a cultural center. Since 1980, the Nationale Stichting De Nieuwe Kerk (National Foundation of the Nieuwe Kerk) has organized the exhibtions and concerts held in the church. However, the Nieuwe Kerk is used for the inauguration of the Dutch monarch according to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands which states, the Dutch monarch “shall be sworn in and inaugurated as soon as possible in the capital city, Amsterdam, at a public and a joint session of the two Houses of the States-General.” In addition, the religious wedding of the future King Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti was held at the Nieuwe Kerk in 2002.
The Oude Kerk (Old Church) was becoming too small for the growing population of Amsterdam. Frederik van Blankenheim, Bishop of Utrecht gave permission for a second church to be constructed. Willem Eggert, a nobleman, banker, and alderman of Amsterdam, donated the orchard near his house for the church site and was the builder and financier of the church. Upon his death in 1417, Willem Eggert was buried in the Eggert Chapel at the Nieuwe Kerk. The Nieuwe Kerk was constructed between 1380 and 1408, and the church was consecrated in 1409.
The Nieuwe Kerk on fire in 1645; Credit – Wikipedia
Fires in 1421 and 1452 caused minor damage, however, there was a major fire on January 11, 1645. Due to the carelessness of workers, the roof caught on fire and a strong northeastern wind allowed the fire to quickly spread. The roof came crashing down, burning almost everything in the church. The interior of the church dates for the most part from after the fire of 1645. Although the time of Gothic architecture was over by then, the Gothic style was used for the restoration.
The church has undergone several restorations since the 1645 fire restoration. From 1892 – 1912, neo-Gothic elements were added to restore the church to its state before the 1645 fire. Between 1959 – 1980, modern conveniences such as lighting and heating were added and/or improved.
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The Inauguration of the Dutch Monarch
The Nieuwe Kerk during the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander in 2013
After the defeat of Napoleon, Willem VI, Prince of Orange, urged on by the powers who met at the Congress of Vienna, proclaimed the Netherlands a monarchy on March 16, 1815. After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and his second exile, the Congress of Vienna formally confirmed Willem as the hereditary ruler, King Willem I, of what was known as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Today, the title Prince/Princess of Orange is held by the heir apparent of the Dutch monarch and the Dutch Royal Family are members of the House of Orange-Nassau.
Upon his or her accession to the throne, the new Dutch monarch participates in an inauguration ceremony as required by the constitution at a joint session of the two houses of the States-General of the Netherlands at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. The inauguration is strictly ceremonial as the successor to the throne instantly becomes the new monarch at the moment the former monarch dies or abdicates. A monarch must be eighteen years old to participate in an inauguration.
The Regalia of the Netherlands and the Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Regalia of the Netherlands and the constitution are placed on a table. The crown symbolizes the monarch’s sovereignty and dignity, the royal scepter symbolizes the monarch’s authority, the orb symbolizes the dominions upon which he reigns, and the constitution symbolizes the constitutional monarchy. The regalia are never physically given to or worn by the monarch. The monarch, wearing a royal mantle, sits on a chair of state opposite members of the States-General and the regalia. The monarch gives an address before taking the oath to uphold the constitution and protect the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
King Willem-Alexander taking the oath
The oath: I swear (promise) to the people of the Kingdom that I shall constantly preserve and uphold the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Constitution. I swear (promise) that I shall defend and preserve the independence and the territory of the Kingdom to the best of my ability, that I shall protect the freedom and rights of all Dutch citizens and residents, and that I shall employ all means placed at my disposal by the law to preserve and promote prosperity, as a good king should do. So help me God! (This I promise!)
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September 21, 1815 – Inauguration of King Willem I; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: King Willem I of the Netherlands
November 28, 1840 – Inauguration of King Willem II; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: King Willem II of the Netherlands
May 12, 1849 – Inauguration of King Willem III; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: King Willem III of the Netherlands
September 6, 1891 – Inauguration of Queen Wilhelmina; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
September 6, 1948 – Inauguration of Queen Juliana; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: Queen Juliana of the Netherlands
April 30, 1980 – Inauguration of Queen Beatrix; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
April 30, 2013 – Inauguration of King Willem-Alexander; Credit – Wikipedia
Unofficial Royalty: King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
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Wedding of the future King Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti
Willem-Alexander and Maxima leaving the Nieuwe Kerk after their marriage
On February 2, 2002, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, then The Prince of Orange and heir to the Dutch throne, married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in a civil ceremony at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, followed by a religious ceremony at Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk. Approximately 1700 guests attended the religious service.
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Works Cited
- De Nieuwe kerk Amsterdam. 2021. De Nieuwe Kerk – Amsterdam. [online] Available at: <https://www.nieuwekerk.nl/en/> [Accessed 2 October 2021].
- En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Inauguration of the Dutch monarch – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_the_Dutch_monarch> [Accessed 2 October 2021].
- En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Inauguration of Willem-Alexander – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inauguration_of_Willem-Alexander> [Accessed 2 October 2021].
- En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nieuwe_Kerk,_Amsterdam> [Accessed 2 October 2021].
- Flantzer, Susan, 2017. Wedding of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/wedding-of-king-willem-alexander-and-maxima-zorreguieta-cerruti/> [Accessed 2 October 2021].
- Nl.wikipedia.org. 2021. Nieuwe Kerk (Amsterdam) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nieuwe_Kerk_(Amsterdam)> [Accessed 2 October 2021].