- Amsterdam
Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder ('Our Lord in the Attic') is a stunning 17th-century canal house that has a fully functioning Catholic Church on its top three floors! Visit the atmospheric schuilkerk (clandestine church) and explore the museum on the lower floor, all with audio guide accompaniment. Truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
This secret church was created when The Alteration of 1578 took away the right of Catholics to worship in public.
Spanning three attics in three canal houses, Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder has been a museum since 1888. Walk the long, narrow layout and its nooks and crannies, see the period art and ornate, baroque furniture and don't miss the angels among mortals behind the altar.
The lower floors let you explore the living quarters of a typical Amsterdam canal house, where remnants from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries paint a vivid picture.
The free audio guide details the evolution of this 'house church' and recounts colorful stories from its past, while the upper floors afford charming views out over the rooftops of old Amsterdam.