If you look up this church on wikipedia you will find a contemporary photo taken from nearly the same spot. Only the most minimal changes are in evidence.
Unfortunately this area of Amsterdam is now one of the least salubrious; the casual tourist is advised to stick to the three great grachten (Heren- , Prinsen, and Keizers-) and to enjoy the art and antique shops along the route to the Rijksmuseum.
As for Catholic churches, Mr Cusack: why not show us some of the attic churches, which breath the authentic spirit of Amsterdam Catholicism: officially banned, but discreetly flourishing and even luxuriant nevertheless.
— N Heereman14 Jun 2009 11:48 am
As it happens, I’ve had a post about one of the best attic churches in preparation for some time now. Fingers crossed, I’ll finish it sometime soon.
— Andrew Cusack14 Jun 2009 2:09 pm
St. Nicholas originated, I believe, as the successor to one of the attic churches. The location is very picturesque. Last time I saw it the interior was unrestored but ruinous. The “mass” being celebrated therein, however, was perhaps the most blasphemous I have seen outside of campus ministry.
— stuart chessman16 Jun 2009 10:57 pm
It did indeed, but luckily the attic church it replaced still exists, if only as a museum: the “Museum Amstelkring” which is a must stop for any Catholic visiting Amsterdam. You’ll need to avert your eyes quite a bit on the way there, however, because you’ll be right in the middle of the red light district.
— Nico Heereman17 Jun 2009 7:34 pm
What a nice coincidence – I stumbled over here from the Holy Whapping comments, and run into my own church :)
Well, “my own” in the sense that I’ve sung in one of its choirs for the last eight years. :)
I especially like the paintings of the life of St. Nicholas (if you’ve sung Britten’s Cantata you’ll recognise almost everything), and there are huge painted Stations with echoing scenes from the Old Testament on top.
Writer, web designer, etc.; born in New York; educated in Argentina, Scotland, and South Africa; now based in London. 
If you look up this church on wikipedia you will find a contemporary photo taken from nearly the same spot. Only the most minimal changes are in evidence.
Unfortunately this area of Amsterdam is now one of the least salubrious; the casual tourist is advised to stick to the three great grachten (Heren- , Prinsen, and Keizers-) and to enjoy the art and antique shops along the route to the Rijksmuseum.
As for Catholic churches, Mr Cusack: why not show us some of the attic churches, which breath the authentic spirit of Amsterdam Catholicism: officially banned, but discreetly flourishing and even luxuriant nevertheless.
As it happens, I’ve had a post about one of the best attic churches in preparation for some time now. Fingers crossed, I’ll finish it sometime soon.
St. Nicholas originated, I believe, as the successor to one of the attic churches. The location is very picturesque. Last time I saw it the interior was unrestored but ruinous. The “mass” being celebrated therein, however, was perhaps the most blasphemous I have seen outside of campus ministry.
It did indeed, but luckily the attic church it replaced still exists, if only as a museum: the “Museum Amstelkring” which is a must stop for any Catholic visiting Amsterdam. You’ll need to avert your eyes quite a bit on the way there, however, because you’ll be right in the middle of the red light district.
What a nice coincidence – I stumbled over here from the Holy Whapping comments, and run into my own church :)
Well, “my own” in the sense that I’ve sung in one of its choirs for the last eight years. :)
I especially like the paintings of the life of St. Nicholas (if you’ve sung Britten’s Cantata you’ll recognise almost everything), and there are huge painted Stations with echoing scenes from the Old Testament on top.