De Krijtberg

De Krijtberg, formally known as Sint Franciscus Xaveriuskerk, is a Catholic church located in the historic center of Amsterdam, on the Singel canal. Built in neo-Gothic style between 1881 and 1883, this church represents one of the oldest and most significant Jesuit sites in the Netherlands. The project was entrusted to architect Alfred Tepe, known for his work in ecclesiastical architecture. The history of De Krijtberg dates back to 1628, when the Flemish Jesuit Pieter Laurenz founded a private chapel in a house on the Singel, dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier. During this period, Catholics in the Netherlands had to practice their religion in secret due to the restrictions imposed by the Protestant Reformation. The original chapel was a “schuilkerk,” or hidden church, which operated discreetly behind the facade of a merchant’s house. Despite the surveillance of the authorities, the Catholic community continued to grow, requiring the construction of a larger chapel in 1677. This too remained hidden until 1796, when Catholics were granted the right to freely practice their religion. In 1835, the chapel was further expanded, but it soon became evident that an even larger building was needed to accommodate the growing congregation. The construction of the current church began in 1879 and was completed in 1883. The new building, in neo-Gothic style, replaced several historic houses along the Singel. The church was consecrated on December 3, 1883, by the Bishop of Haarlem. The facade is characterized by two twin towers and a high gable decorated with Gothic details, while the interior, with three naves, is rich in ornaments and works of art. The interior of De Krijtberg was furnished with numerous iconographic programs that express the restoration of Catholicism in the Netherlands after 1853. The walls are adorned with frescoes and sandstone sculptures depicting canonized Jesuits, including Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and Saint Peter Claver. The stained glass windows represent saints of the Society of Jesus, adding an additional level of beauty and spiritual significance to the environment. The altar, the canopy, and numerous other elements of the interior furnishings are works from the workshop of Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg, completed between 1882 and 1886. The choir gate, which separates the altar area from the community space, is particularly noteworthy: built in wood, it shows representations of the twelve apostles and is topped by a Calvary modeled according to medieval iconography. A distinctive element of De Krijtberg is the Chapel of Saint Mary in the left nave, whose altar, also created by the Mengelberg studio in 1885, depicts scenes from the life of Mary. These artistic details not only enrich the visual experience of visitors but also underline the depth of the Catholic tradition that the church represents. Despite the threat of closure in the 1960s due to the decline in the number of faithful, De Krijtberg was declared a National Monument in 1974, a recognition that ensured its preservation. Restoration work was completed in 2003, preserving the historical and artistic integrity of the church.