Amsterdam is a truly international city. Recognizing this, our marriage preparation course is specifically designed for couples from abroad who plan to marry in the Catholic Church. This program connects participants with others in similar situations and offers guidance and insights from experienced married couples. We warmly invite you to register!
DAY AND TIME: All 6 sessions need to be attended
PLACE: Keizersgracht 218 B – 1016 DZ Amsterdam
COSTS: € 150, the couple.
Tuesday, January 13th, from 8 to 10 pm
Habits for highly effective relationships.
By Jan and Ursula de Jong
Wednesday, January 21st,
From 6 to 8 pm we shall have a potluck dinner
and from 8 to 10 pm
Christian anthropology of Marriage. Love and responsibility.
By Maria Theresia and Paolo Toffano
Tuesday, January 27th, from 8 to 10 pm
By Father Rafael de Ojeda
Marriage as a sacrament. The meaning of marrying in the Church.
Followed by the ceremony for the blessing of the couples
Saturday, January 31st, from 3.30 to 5.00 pm
From just a couple to a few kids. Beauty and challenges.
By Lucy and Nick van Schaijik
Tuesday, February 3rd, from 8 to 10 pm
Sexual intimacy and fertility according to natural cycles.
By Monica and Sander Reintjens
Saturday, February 7th, from 3.30 to 5.00 pm
How can you keep and increase married love during the years?
By Mapy and Federico Castillo
To register, download this form, fill it up, and send it via email to
Starting from September 25, 2025, through March 12, 2026, the Catholic faith
will be explained every Thursday evening in a highly professional and content-rich manner.
Click here for a video from the Augustinian Institute for an introduction.
The participant contribution is 50 euros and can be paid via this QR code.
You can also simply transfer the amount to IBAN NL16 INGB 0000 0838 31
(Stichting Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk) with the payment reference ‘Symbolon’.
Click here to download the flyer in PDF-format (bilingual)
DOWNLOAD OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM HERE
Pilgrimage to Kevelaer
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Once again we are going to Kevelaer on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The coach will depart punctually at 8:30 am. The boarding point is at the P&R at the Port Building (Havengebouw) at No. 7 De Ruijterkade, Postal Code 1013 AA, at the back right of Central Station.
At 12:00, our sung Holy Eucharist will begin in the Basilica of the Sanctuary. Beginning at 11:30 am, there will be confessions for those who wish.
After Holy Mass, we shall have lunch in small groups. In Kevelaer there are numerous possibilities to eat somewhere. Consumption is at your own expense. Shopping is also possible in the free time.
For those interested, at 3:00 pm we shall pray the Way of the Cross in the open-air church, near the Candle Chapel.
At 16:30 pm, the Benediction and Rosary will take place in the same Basilica. Departure from Kevelaer at 5:30 pm (again punctual). We expect to be back in Amsterdam at the Port building in the evening around 8:30 pm.
The participation fee is € 40 per adult, children up to 12 years € 20. Reservation means paiment in advance. The complete amount should be paid by QR Code or deposited in the account of the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk before October 20 via IBAN: NL16 INGB 0000 0838 31 stating “Kevelaer Pilgrimage”. Register in time! Last year, there were more registrations than seats on the bus...
Please also email the following information (required for travel insurance) to:
For essential information only, please contact Lucia Lapar: +31 (0)6 272 970 59.
Note: Due to passport control at the German border, bringing a passport/identity card is a requirement!
Quick QR Scan:
The Corpus Christi Procession went reverent and hail-fellow.
Please have a look at the pictures below:
The Most Holy Sacrament:
Dear Christians, parishioners,
Starting February 15, trams will no longer run via the Westermarkt.
This is temporary. When they will resume is not 100% certain.
We announce this with the intention of allowing you to adjust your travel method and time accordingly.
Click here to read the news article from VGB.
A group of students from the University of Amsterdam has made a documentary on the growing number of conversions to the Catholic Faith among the young people in our time. I hope you enjoy it.
Follow this link
From the brochure you can download by clicking here.
We are excited to announce the formation of a new children’s
choir, offering a wonderful opportunity to explore the joy of
singing while gaining valuable skills and experiences.
We look forward to nurturing young talents and spreading the joy
of music in our community. Book your audition today and let your
child’s musical journey begin!
Contact:
Una Cintina
Music Director Church of Our Lady, Amsterdam
Once again we had the honor of conducting the Sacrament Procession from our church with Bishop Hendriks.
It was the first time with a completely new team and we are grateful to our predecessors, Mgr van der Ploeg and Jos Witteman, that they left behind a well-oiled machine.
Italian and Suriname community members participated along with our Orthodox brothers and sisters.
Here are pictures and videos taken by friends and parishioners.
On May 12, the bishop came to administer the sacrament of Confirmation to fifteen people -young and not so young.
It was an impressive celebration that, as the bishop describes, was very international
"I was in the Church of Our Lady on Keizersgracht to give Holy Confirmation to young people from the English-speaking community. However, the candidates came from many different countries, such as Brazil, Italy, Spain and others."
click here for Msgr. Hendriks' blog. The celebration was in English.
And here for a photo reportage taken by parents and parishioners.
On Sunday the 26th of May we celebrated the First Holy Communion of two groups of children.
The Dutch-speaking children at 11.15 and the English-speaking ones at 15.00 h.
Click here for the pictures
Marriage Course in May and June 2025
Here you can download the application form to fill up and send back to Fr Rafael (
or call 06 185 196 47
I would like to share with you this wonderful article written by experienced parents:
Sometimes at the end of Mass a parishioner comes up to us and says “Your three children are SO well behaved!” Our standard response is either, “Thank you. We work at it” or “Thank you, some days are better than others.” The “better” days are the product of years of articles and brochures we read on taking children to Mass. Here is the distilled wisdom we rely upon.
Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25, we celebrate the feasts of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
On Friday, Masses are at 12:15 and at 7:30 pm in the chapel (218B).
On Saturday, Mass is at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
Some people who attended sent these pictures and videos. (See the city and the church)
With thanks to the Syrian Orthodox Community you may follow the whole procession that was sent as live-stream.
You can listen to the audio of the homily:
The Holy Spirit and our own spiritual life; this one is in Dutch for a great part.
The Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; this one fully in English.