The museum ‘Our Lord in the Attic’ in the heart of Amsterdam might seem like an ordinary house built on a canal, but it’s anything but. Not only has the building preserved many of its 17th century features, but also contains a hidden place of worship.

In 17th century Holland, Catholics were seen as “idolatrous” heretics who corrupted the true faith and posed a threat as allies of the Dutch enemy, Catholic Spain. Catholic worship was officially outlawed in the Dutch Republic since 1581, but the injunction was not actually enforced by legal authorities, and many continued their practice in ‘hidden’ churches such as this museum.

This talk will introduce this unique museum, the position of the Catholics during the ‘Golden Age of the Netherlands’, famous Catholic artists and so called Dutch tolerance and liberalism.