Gezicht op de zijkant van de Oude Kerk te Amsterdam 1685 - 1726

Daniël Stopendaal created this print of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Stopendaal was working during the Dutch Golden Age, a period when the Netherlands experienced unprecedented economic, scientific, and artistic growth. This image is not just a neutral depiction of a religious building. As one of the main churches in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk was at the heart of the city's social and spiritual life, closely tied to the historical narratives of its citizens. The figures in the foreground going about their daily lives remind us of how religion, community and everyday existence were interwoven. Through his work, Stopendaal invites us to reflect on the relationship between the sacred and the secular, and how these dynamics shape both individual and collective identities.