Oude Kerk Unveils Diverse 2025 Programme Featuring Contemporary Art, Historic Returns, and Amsterdam's 750th Celebrations
The Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest building, has announced its extensive programme for 2025, a year that coincides with the city's 750th anniversary. The calendar promises a blend of significant contemporary art installations, the culmination of major restoration projects, and a series of public events designed to foster dialogue and celebrate Amsterdam's rich history and future. Artistic Director Mariette Dölle highlights the desire for open spaces where diverse voices can be heard, using art as a catalyst for conversations between past and present, local and global perspectives.
Major Exhibitions and Art Installations at Oude Kerk
Internationally acclaimed artist Kimsooja will present a unique installation from May 24 to November 9, 2025. She conceptualizes the Oude Kerk as a "bottari," a traditional Korean travel bundle symbolizing migration and transformation. Her work will involve covering the church windows with diffraction film to transform natural light into vibrant colors, and placing brightly colored, knotted cloth bundles containing personal items on the floor. Collaborating with local communities from Korean, Chinese, Turkish, and Indonesian backgrounds, Kimsooja's installation will reflect Amsterdam's diverse migration history, connecting the church to broader narratives of movement and connection.
The exhibition "When Doubt Turns into Destiny" by Navid Nuur continues until February 9, 2025. This long-term project features one hundred vases, crafted from clay mixed with minerals, soil, and debris collected from across Amsterdam. The vases will progressively leave the church over a century, with the project slated for completion in 2125, coinciding with Amsterdam's 850th anniversary. The exhibition has received critical acclaim, being listed among the best exhibitions of 2024 by Het Parool and NRC. More information on this unique art journey is available.
From October 18, 2025, to March 1, 2026, Minne Kersten will explore the relationship between human emotions and architectural environments in the Side Spaces. Her work delves into how physical spaces are shaped psychologically by people's feelings and memories, and how these spaces evolve over time.
Historic Windows Return and Tower Reopening in Amsterdam
A significant restoration project culminates with the return of two iconic stained-glass windows: Dirck Crabeth’s "Mary’s Deathbed" (1555) and the "Second Mayors’ Window" (1757–1795). These windows, removed in 2020 due to subsiding walls, will be reinstalled using an innovative technique designed to accommodate future structural movement. From February 21 to May 7, 2025, visitors can observe the restoration process up close in the Mary Chapel, with weekly expert insights and a background film. Mayor Halsema is scheduled to unveil the restored windows on June 13, marking a moment where the church will be scaffold-free for the first time in years. Further details on this historic return are available.
On April 12, the Oudekerkstoren (Old Church Tower) will joyfully reopen its doors after being closed for an extended period. This reopening allows visitors to ascend Amsterdam’s oldest church tower, standing at 67 meters, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. The tower, dating back to 1306, is a key historical landmark and may have even influenced Cornelis Antoniszoon's famous 1544 bird's-eye map of Amsterdam.
Special Events for Amsterdam's 750th Anniversary
On February 8, 2025, one hundred Amsterdam residents will participate in a symbolic event, storing Navid Nuur's city vases in the historic Iron Chapel, which once served as Amsterdam's city vault. The first vase will be auctioned on October 27, Amsterdam’s official birthday, with proceeds supporting future artistic endeavors at the Oude Kerk for the next century.
On March 9, locals and visitors are invited to gather for the annual "Saskia Ontbijt XL," a special morning event to witness a ray of sunlight fall upon the grave of Saskia van Uylenburg, one of Amsterdam's celebrated figures.
Throughout the year, experimental organist Hampus Lindwall, titular organist of Saint-Esprit in Paris, will curate a series of three concerts on the Vater-Müller Organ, featuring collaborations with artists Hanne Lippard, Ellen Arkbro, and Cory Arcangel. Performances are scheduled for June 7, September 13, and October 24, 2025.
The Oude Kerk will offer free admission to all visitors on October 27, in celebration of Amsterdam's official 750th birthday.
This vibrant 2025 programme at the Oude Kerk underscores its role as a dynamic cultural hub deeply intertwined with Amsterdam's identity. To discover more unique cultural spots and experiences in the city and beyond, explore Musemap (musemap.art) or browse other museums in the area. You can also view them on a map to plan your next cultural adventure.
