In the heart of the bustling center you can find one of the oldest museums in the city: Our Lord in the Attic (Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder). Here the visitor experiences the Dutch Golden Age in a special way; a 17th century house with a church in the attic. No less than 350 years ago, Jan Hartman bought the building on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal together with the two adjacent buildings on the Heintje Hoekssteeg. He had the attics of the three houses converted into a Roman Catholic church conform to the conventions of that time – nothing on the outside would suggest that there was a house of worship inside. The clandestine churches were very important during this period of time as they marked the beginning of religion tolerance.
To ensure the preservation of the monument, all living areas, stairs and the beautiful attic church have been restored. Where cabinets were converted into showcases decades ago with the aim of displaying artifacts, the process is now reversed; display cases have been removed and cabinets are cabinets again. The starting point for the restoration and refurbishment is the original function. As a visitor you will experience what the house church looked like when it was used as a church.
Color, light and furnishing exude the atmosphere of the period in which the last masses took place in the attic church, late 19th century. The clandestine churches were of great importance during this period because they marked the beginning of religious tolerance. A free audio tour tells the stories of the different periods in the house. The museum has a new entrance building with shop and a cozy café. This way you can relax after the walk while enjoying a snack and drink.
Guided tours
Due to the limited capacity of this historic building, it is necessary for groups to register in advance. An audio tour is included in the entrance fee and is available in Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish. A guided tour can be organized on request and is available in Dutch, English, French and German. Cost for 1,5 hour during tour: € 95,00 or € 70,00 for a 1 hour tour of only the highlights of the museum (maximum 10 people per guide, 2 guides available at the same time). Group bookings do not include the entrance fee. Groups are kindly requested to register in advance via the booking office: call 020-3108888 (Monday to Friday from 1pm-5pm) or send an e-mail: boekingen@opsolder.nl.
Free tours for children
For children from 5 to 10 years there the museum offers the treasure hunt 'Ladybug in the Attic'. For children aged 10 to 12 the free audio tour 'Feast! In the Attic' is available, during which children will learn more about the origins of Christian holidays such as Sinterklaas, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.
