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Time and again visitors are astonished by the unique atmosphere in this small museum, a 17th-century dwelling with a chapel in the attic. The elegant living room is the only one of its kind still preserved in Amsterdam. Upstairs is the chaplain's room and a small kitchen: here time seems to stand still. In 1661 the owner, Jan Hartman, made a Catholic church in the attic. It had to be more or less hidden, because in 1578 after the reformation, Protestantism became the official religion in Amsterdam and Catholics were only allowed to worship in private.
At Museum Our Lord in the Attic, the 21st century visitor steps back in time: history is made tangible in a typical domestic setting. For every visitor, whether from Amsterdam or far away, this is an experience to savour. The museum is in restauration and open to the public. You are welcome to visit the restauration.
An Empty House, Full of Stories
In 2011, we start the next stage of our restoration, refurnishing and extension programme. In April, work will commence outside on the foundations of the adjacent building, while inside the restoration and refurbishing of the attic church proceeds apace. Throughout the project, the museum continues to welcome visitors.
A brand new audio tour is launched in April featuring stories about the museum’s various rooms. While the church tells a nineteenth-century tale, the narrative in the Parlour and the Canal room is seventeenth-century. For much of the year these areas will be devoid of decoration and exhibits; instead they will be full of stories about former residents, history and architecture.
To provide more insight into the restoration of the interior, a presentation has been organised giving information about various aspects of the programme. In OPEN! Restoration several restorers and curators offer their commentary. They explain the work being done on the authentic interior and the vision behind it.
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