Basilica of Saint Nicholas, Amsterdam

The Co-cathedral Basilica of Saint Nicholas is Amsterdam's primary Roman Catholic church, located in the Old Centre district very close to the main railway station. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of both the church and the city.

Don't miss

• The main facade is flanked by two towers with a rose window between them, containing a bas-relief of Christ and the four Evangelists made in 1886.
• A sculpture of Saint Nicholas by Bart van Hove stands in a niche at the top of the gable.
• The crossing features a large octagonal tower with a baroque-style dome and lantern, crowned by a cross.
• Above the high altar is the crown of Maximilian I, a symbol seen throughout Amsterdam.
• The central dome is highly ornate with four levels of stained glass encircling it.
• An 1889 Sauer Organ is located above the main entrance beneath the rose window.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Basilica of Saint Nicholas, Amsterdam

Cheapest way inThe Anne Frank Tour (Jewish Neighborhood & Amsterdam during WWII)4.5★ · 70 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Most bookedAmsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese4.8★ · 33,195 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$19 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleAnne Frank and the Jewish History of Amsterdam Private Tour4.9★ · 330 travelers~3 hoursFrom$92 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• The basilica lies between the street Prins Hendrikkade and the canal Oudezijds Kolk.
• The basilica has two chapels at the southeast ends of the side aisles, one devoted to Mary and one to Joseph.

A bit of history

Construction was completed in 1887, designed by architect Adrianus Bleijs in a combination of Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles. The church was built on a previously urban site, forcing a northwest-southeast axis instead of the standard east-west orientation. In December 2021, the basilica received a relic of Saint Nicholas from Egmond Abbey, said to be a fragment of the saint's rib. The church was elevated to a basilica minor in 2012, and in 2025 Pope Francis elevated it to co-cathedral of the diocese Haarlem-Amsterdam.