Westerkerk Accessibility Guide

Overview

The Westerkerk is a 17th-century Protestant church on the Prinsengracht canal, in the heart of the Jordaan district. Its 85-meter tower, the Westertoren, is the tallest church tower in Amsterdam and features the imperial crown of Maximilian of Austria at its top. The church is closely linked to the Anne Frank House, located just two doors down. Rembrandt is believed to have been buried here in 1669.

The main church floor is accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp. The interior is a single large nave with a flat stone floor, making it straightforward to navigate. The tower, however, requires climbing 185 steep, narrow steps and is not accessible for anyone who cannot manage stairs.

Getting There

• Tram: Trams 13 and 17 stop at Westermarkt, directly in front of the church. All GVB trams have low-floor boarding and ramps.
• Bus: Bus 18 and 21 serve stops along Haarlemmerstraat, a 5-minute walk north.
• Metro: Amsterdam Centraal (all metro lines) is about 1.2 km east. Follow Raadhuisstraat west, a wide street with paved sidewalks, to reach the church in about 15 minutes.

Wheelchair Accessibility

• A ramp provides step-free access to the main church entrance.
• The church interior has a flat stone floor. The main nave is spacious with wide aisles between rows of seating.
• The flagstone floor may be slightly uneven in spots due to the building's age.
• The Westertoren (tower) is accessed by a steep, narrow spiral staircase of 185 steps. There is no elevator. The tower is not accessible for wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility.

Accessible Toilets

The church does not have public accessible restrooms. The nearest accessible toilets are at the Anne Frank House (for ticket holders) at Prinsengracht 267, or at cafes along Prinsengracht. The Cafe 't Smalle at Egelantiersgracht 12 has a ground-floor restroom accessible to most wheelchair users.

Tips for Visitors with Disabilities

• The church is open limited hours (Monday-Saturday 11:00am-3:00pm). Plan your visit within this window.
• Free organ concerts are occasionally held. Check the church website for schedules. The church interior has good acoustics and flat access throughout.
• The Anne Frank House is just 50 meters south along Prinsengracht. Combine both visits if you have tickets.
• The Homomonument, a memorial on Westermarkt square directly outside the church, is at ground level and fully accessible.
• Prinsengracht has wide, paved sidewalks on both sides, making the approach to the church smooth and straightforward.