Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Amsterdam Our Lord in the Attic

Our Lord in the Attic

The attic of a four-century-old canal house hides a clandestine church.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Added By
Luke Spencer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Our Lord in the Attic   Luke J Spencer / Atlas Obscura User
Amsterdam - Ons Lieve Heer Op Solder   philoursmars
small chapel   tiapatrol / Atlas Obscura User
Art work   tiapatrol / Atlas Obscura User
Tiny Bedspace   tiapatrol / Atlas Obscura User
Organ   tiapatrol / Atlas Obscura User
Museum Amstelkring   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  taylormack / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Main worship area   tiapatrol / Atlas Obscura User
  Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Looking out an upper window.   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Amsterdam - Ons Lieve Heer Op Solder   philoursmars
  anyaandpoppy / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The canal house at Number 40, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Amsterdam, looks much like the other Queen Anne-style homes that the old city is famous for.

Built as a residential home in 1630, in the heart of the oldest part of Amsterdam and bordering the infamous red light district, this particular steep-gabled building holds a remarkable secret. Making your way through the nearly 400-year-old corridors, kitchens, and bedrooms, there is a narrow and steep staircase that leads to the upper floors. Where, hidden away in the attic, is a magnificently miniature, fully-appointed Catholic church.

The clandestine church, known in Dutch as a "schuilkerk," was secreted away in the attic on purpose due to the persecution of Catholicism in Holland in the 17th century. Unable to hold mass in public, Jan Hartmann converted the attic of his home to a church in 1663.

Entrance to the church, known as Our Dear Lord in the Attic or “Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder,” was gained through a fake door hidden in the living room. This led onto a tiny spiral staircase that would take the faithful Papists into the top reaches of the attic.

Whilst nothing on the outside of the home suggests what is hidden inside, the miniature church is an exquisitely appointed place of worship. With seating for about 150 worshippers in narrow gallery seating, the secret church is beautifully decorated in the Dutch classicist style. The marble and gilt altar is lavishly decorated with a painting of the Baptism of Christ by Jacob de Wit, surrounded by pillars made from more marble.

The secret church was turned into a museum in 1888, making it the second oldest museum in the city. But this unique treasure is still in use today, with regular services held in the attic, just as they have been for the past 400 years. 

Related Tags

Hidden Secret Churches Sacred Spaces

Community Contributors

Added By

Luke J Spencer

Edited By

philoursmars, Jaszmina Szendrey, CoolCrab, Collector of Experiences...

  • philoursmars
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • CoolCrab
  • Collector of Experiences
  • taylormack
  • tiapatrol
  • anyaandpoppy
  • Julius Spada

Published

April 9, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/teaching/case/olita/index.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ons%27_Lieve_Heer_op_Solder
Our Lord in the Attic
Museum Our Lord in the Attic
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40
Amsterdam, 1012
Netherlands
52.375078, 4.899351
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Oudekerksplein

Amsterdam, Netherlands

miles away

In't Aepjen

Amsterdam, Netherlands

miles away

Red Light Secrets

Amsterdam, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Places 73
Stories 6

Nearby Places

Oudekerksplein

Amsterdam, Netherlands

miles away

In't Aepjen

Amsterdam, Netherlands

miles away

Red Light Secrets

Amsterdam, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Amsterdam

Amsterdam

Netherlands

Places 73
Stories 6

Related Places

  • The Indecent Little Man of St James Church

    Brno, Czechia

    The Indecent Little Man on the Church of St. James

    A cheeky architectural easter egg.

  • The altar in the temple.

    Oakland, California

    Bay Area Thelemic Temple

    A temple devoted to inner esoteric mysteries located in a California commercial strip.

  • New York, New York

    Streecha

    A Ukrainian church canteen doles out hearty fare in an East Village basement.

  • Warwickshire, England

    Baddesley Clinton

    This medieval manor house was equipped with secret compartments for hiding priests.

  • Katoghike Church today, with the new St. Anna Church behind it.

    Yerevan, Armenia

    Katoghike Church

    This little medieval church hidden in the center of Yerevan was lost and rediscovered—twice.

  • Barça Coat of Arms in Santa María del Mar.

    Barcelona, Spain

    FC Barcelona Coat of Arms

    Barça football fans might see the insignia hidden in a church window as a divine sign.

  • The Petroteca.

    Zacatecas, Mexico

    Petroteca of San Agustín

    Fragments of the former temple's lost facade are now displayed in a strange library of stones.

  • Entrance to the hidden chapel.

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Begijnhof Chapel

    A hidden church in a hidden courtyard tells the story of the Miracle of Amsterdam.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.