Viking Cruise Vacation #5: Amsterdam: St. Nicholas Church, Dutch Worshipped Gods and Famous Tunnel Tiles

 This is the fifth blog about our Viking Rhine River Cruise. Today's blog is about some of our experiences in Amsterdam- St. Nicholas Church, Gods the Dutch Used to worship and some famous, historic tunnel tiles.

SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH - Nicholas is known as the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, repentant thieves, children, brewers, pawnbrokers, and students in various cities and countries around Europe. Apparently, he's the same St. Nicholas that inspired "Santa Claus" and the biggest church in Amsterdam is named for him. St, Nicholas is also the patron saint of the city of Amsterdam.

The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is located in the Old Centre district of Amsterdam, Netherlands, very close to Amsterdam's main railway station. The basilica is the city's primary Roman Catholic church. It's located at Prins Hendrikkade 73, 1012 AD Amsterdam, Netherlands. the church opened in 1887 and was constructed in the Renaissance Revival architecture and Baroque Revival architecture.

We entered the church, and I found it dark with a heavy feeling, so we didn't stay long. 

WHAT GODS DID DUTCH PEOPLE WORSHIP (Before Catholicism and Protestantism)? Gods such as Nehalennia, Hludana and Sandraudiga are of Celtic or Celto-Germanic,origin; the Germanic people had such gods as Wodan, Donar and Frigg/Freya from Scandinavia. Jupiter, Minerva and Venus were introduced by the Romans.

(Photo: Rob walking under a decorated alleyway roof.) 

RELIGION ISN'T BIG IN THE NETHERLANDS - More than half (55 percent) of Dutch people aged 15 years and over are not religious. In 2020, 20 percent of the Dutch population belonged to the Catholic Church, 14 percent were Protestant, 5 percent Muslim and 5 percent belonged to another religious group.

CUYPERSPASSAGE - There's a tunnel near the railway station that goes under the railroad tracks and leads from the city to the docks of the River IJ. In that tunnel or "Cuyperspassage" are about 46,000 painted porcelain white tiles. They are painted with scenes of boats and fishermen. The tiles are an homage to the work of Dutch tile painter Cornelis Boumeester. In addition to the 46,000 tiles on the side and roof of the tunnel, there are said to be another 33,000 tiles on the floor.  As you walk into the center of the tunnel, we noticed that a lof of the images have been worn away, and the tiles appear mostly white with very faint blue outlined images. The tiles feature the traditional blue and white color palette of Delftware ceramics, which have been a major industry in the Netherlands since the 17th century!

CROWDED STREETS - There are some streets in the city that were insanely busy. Once we accidentally found them we turned around and returned to the Viking River Cruise ship! 

NEXT: The Windmills of Kinderdijk

Viking Cruise Vacation #3: Amsterdam: Leaning Buildings, Canals, Anne Frank's House, Royal Waiting Chamber

This is the third blog about our Viking Rhine River Cruise. Today's blog is about some of our experiences in Amsterdam- Why there are leaning Buildings, the famous "Anne Frank" House, and a look at the Royal Waiting Chamber.

LEANING BUILDINGS IN AMSTERDAM - Almost every house in one part of Amsterdam was built on top of long, wooden poles that were driven into the marshy ground beneath the city. Combined with the wet conditions of the soil, the houses are simply sinking over time. Although the foundations are generally very stable, over time some houses have shifted, causing them to lurch over the canals.

CANALS IN AMSTERDAM - It's known as the "Venice of the North," according to our tour guide. Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than 100 kilometers of grachten or canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.

(Photo: One of the main canals in Amsterdam. Credit: R.G.) 

THE FAMOUS ANNE FRANK HOUSE  (Museum) - If you read the "Diary of Anne Frank" you'll know the significance of the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam.  The Diary of Anne Frank is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. For over two years (1942-1944) Anne Frank and her family hid in the annex of the building at Prinsengracht 263 where Anne’s father, Otto Frank, had his business.  Click for more info. (Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to tour it). 

(Photo: The Amsterdam Centraal train station. Credit: R.G.) 

THE AMSTERDAM CENTRAAL TRAIN STATION - P.J.H. Cuypers and A.L. Van Gendt were the architects commissioned to design and build it in 1875. It was built in Dutch Renaissance Style.   

(Photo: Rob and Tom outside the Royal Waiting Chamber. Credit: R.G.) 

THE ROYAL WAITING CHAMBER WITHIN - Located in the Amsterdam Centraal train station on platform 2B, a special room was constructed for Netherlands Royalty. It is located on the east wing of the railway station., and visitors can peer into it behind walls of glass. The room is decorated with the royal family's coat of arms and other ornaments referring to Queen Emma and King William III (who were in power during the construction of the train station in 1875).   There are mosaic floors, carpets, paneled walls and a fireplace. 

(Photos: Top:  the Royal Waiting Chamber; Bottom: Outside "reliefs" - stone carvings of Roman Gods. Credit: R.G.) 

This castle-like section that houses the waiting chamber was also known as the “Koninklijk Paviljoen” or the Royal Pavilion. Now it is officially called “Koningklijke Wachtkamer." (Quick Video tour: https://fb.watch/l3A6ylMqU6/) 

NEXT: The Secret of "Coffeehouses" & the Monkey Pub