In short
The Posthoornkerk lifts three slender spires above the streets near Haarlemmerstraat. Designed by Pierre Cuypers, it combines a striking skyline with a richly coloured interior. Its present life is cultural rather than an ordinary parish timetable: plan an open house, exhibition or concert if you want to go beyond the exterior.
An early Amsterdam work by the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Centraal Station.
Neo-Gothic architecture, coloured brick and stained glass.
Two galleries are arranged one above the other.
Open houses, events and tower visits have separate arrangements.
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Posthoornkerk open houses, events and tower access
Checked 22 October 2026: the venue page lists ordinary public opening on the first Wednesday, 12:00–16:00, and third Sunday, 13:00–16:00 of the month. Check the date-specific cultural agenda: individual events may change access.
Listed open houses are free; concerts, fairs and organised tours have their own conditions. A tower climb is a separately scheduled activity and is not automatically included in an open house. Confirm a date, availability and physical requirements before planning around it.
Hours
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First Wednesday 12:00–16:00
Ordinary public opening; confirm the specific agenda date.
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Third Sunday 13:00–16:00
Event exceptions may apply; tower tours are separate.
Prices of visits
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Listed open houses Free
Under the current cultural programme; confirm date-specific access.
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Events and tower visits Check programme
Separate booking, timing and participation conditions may apply.
What to notice at the Posthoornkerk
Begin with the skyline and the way the church is fitted into the surrounding street. Inside, when access is available, look upwards to compare the galleries and vaulting before concentrating on details. Light changes the effect of the coloured brick, so the room rewards a slower look rather than a quick photograph from the doorway.
Neo-Gothic interior Must see
Look upwards to appreciate the room’s vertical arrangement.
Three spires
Compare the skyline from surrounding public streets.
Double galleries
Notice the two levels of galleries arranged above one another.
Coloured brick
Look at material and colour rather than only individual ornaments.
Stained glass
Observe the changing light during a confirmed interior opening.
Quick summary of a Posthoornkerk visit
Allow roughly 20–40 minutes for a first architectural visit at a public opening. Add the full advertised programme for a concert or guided activity. If no interior opening suits your trip, an exterior stop can still form part of a walk along Haarlemmerstraat, with the understanding that it offers a different experience.
Best moment
A confirmed open house or chosen concert
Crowd
Varies with cultural events and visitor openings
Kid friendly
A supervised short visit; tower conditions are separate
Unmissable
The galleries, brickwork and three-spire skyline
Type of experience
Neo-Gothic architecture and conservation
What to expect
A former church with scheduled cultural access
A canal route passing the Posthoornkerk
The selected one-hour canal cruise lists the Posthoornkerk as a pass-by on a wider city route. It can provide a view of the church in its urban setting, but it does not include church entry or a tower climb. Navigation conditions can affect the actual route and viewpoint.
The advertised cruise includes an electric boat with a panoramic glass roof, an open rear deck and commentary arrangements. Check the currently selected departure point and available language, and compare these with your other plans. Boarding is not at the church: use the confirmation’s meeting instructions.
Good to know
Public access is scheduled, not daily sightseeing.
A private function or cultural event may change an ordinary opening.
Office areas are separate from the public central space.
An open house, concert ticket and tower booking are different arrangements.
Practical tips
Check the date-specific agenda before travelling to an open house.
Look up at the paired galleries and the use of coloured brick.
Confirm tower conditions separately, including age and mobility requirements.
Leave time for the surrounding Haarlemmerstraat area and keep entrances clear.
How to reach the Posthoornkerk
The visitor address is Haarlemmerstraat 124–126, west of Amsterdam Centraal. Approach on foot through the shopping street and follow the venue signs at the entrance. A boat trip or organised tower walk may have a different meeting point; check each confirmation separately.
Allow roughly 15–20 minutes on foot westwards along the Haarlemmerstraat area, depending on your exit and pace.
Allow roughly 10 minutes through the western centre towards Haarlemmerstraat. Check crossings and give cyclists space.
Use Haarlemmerstraat 124–126 and follow the entrance signs. An activity confirmation may specify a separate meeting location.
Posthoornkerk, Amsterdam
Official Transport in Barcelona
Cuypers’s church and its survival through new uses
Cuypers designed the Posthoornkerk in 1860, early in his Amsterdam career. Its development in the nineteenth century expressed a renewed public presence for Catholic church architecture, following the earlier era of concealed worship.
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The narrow, deep plot shaped the building. Height, galleries and the slender towers helped create a monumental presence within a constrained site. The stacked side galleries also provided additional space inside; the brick vaults perform a structural role as well as creating the visual effect overhead.
The church’s later history included threatened demolition and a successful campaign for preservation. Adaptation introduced offices behind glass partitions while retaining the central space for public activity. Restoration addressed the towers, stained glass and artworks, helping the building continue as a venue rather than disappear.
Cuypers’s other Amsterdam works offer a useful comparison after this visit. The Rijksmuseum and Centraal Station belong to the same architect’s wider contribution to the city, yet each building answers a different purpose. Compare materials and the treatment of height without expecting the church to be a smaller version of either landmark.
Three spires, double galleries and a familiar name
The familiar name means Post Horn Church.
Its formal dedication is Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
The three spires make the church visible beyond its narrow street frontage.
Two galleries are stacked one above the other.
Adaptation preserved a central cultural space alongside other uses.
Cuypers architecture tickets and Amsterdam canal experiences
Find your stay near the Posthoornkerk
Compare accommodation around Haarlemmerstraat, the western canal belt and Centraal if you want a base within walking distance. Check room noise, luggage access and stairs at the property. The map is centred on the Posthoornkerk, with its actual street location.
Posthoornkerk visiting questions
Is the Posthoornkerk open every day?
No ordinary daily tourist timetable is established. Use the scheduled public openings or a confirmed cultural event.
When are the open houses?
The venue page lists the first Wednesday 12:00–16:00 and third Sunday 13:00–16:00. Check the date-specific agenda for changes.
Are the open houses free?
The listed open-house programme is free. Concerts, fairs and guided activities have their own admission arrangements.
Can I climb a tower during any opening?
No. Tower access is separately scheduled. Confirm a tour date, availability, age and physical requirements before planning around it.
Does the selected cruise enter the church?
No. It lists the Posthoornkerk as a pass-by within a wider canal route. It includes neither church admission nor a tower climb.
Who designed the church?
Pierre Cuypers, also known for Amsterdam Centraal Station and the Rijksmuseum, designed this early Amsterdam work.
What is the correct address?
Use Haarlemmerstraat 124–126. Check any event or guided-tour confirmation for the precise entrance or meeting point.
How long should I allow?
Around 20–40 minutes can suit a first architectural look at an open house. Allow the full advertised time for a concert or tower tour.
