About the Venues
Westerkerk
The church we are getting married in carries significant historical importance for the city of Amsterdam. The Westerkerk is where the Dutch Queen, Queen Beatrix, married Claus von Amsberg in 1966. You may also remember the Westerkerk from the Diary of Anne Frank: the Westertoren is mentioned frequently in her diary – its clock-face on the tower could be seen from the attic of the Achterhuis, and Anne Frank described the chiming of the carillon as a source of comfort. A memorial statue of Anne Frank is located outside the church at Westermarkt. Rembrandt van Rijn, the famous Dutch painter best known for his ‘De Nachtwacht’ painting (The Night Watch in English, on display at the Rijksmuseum) was buried s under a tombstone in the Westerkerk in 1669. The Netherlands is also the first country to legalise gay marriage. Just outside the front of the Westerkerk is the Homomonument - a monument that was designed to "inspire and support lesbians and gays in their struggle against denial, oppression and discrimination.”
Hotel Arena
Construction of the building began in 1886 and after completion in 1888 it was called the Sint Elisabeth Gesticht. The 'Gesticht' offered shelter to Roman Catholic orphan girls, who could not go anywhere else and found a safe place to live here. The strict-faith institution had the classical chapel as a base for the girls and sisters to gather daily to pray.
In 1911 Queen Regent Emma, wife of King Willem III, visited the St. Elisabeth Institution for the second time. Shortly after the opening in the 19th century, she had already visited out of interest. A few years later, the First World War broke out and the attic of the orphanage was used as a refuge for Belgian refugees.
During the Second World War, the obstetrics department of the nearby Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis was housed in the orphanage after the German occupiers seized their space. Unfortunately, in 1944 the orphanage also fell into the hands of the Nazis. After the liberation in 1945, the original inhabitants returned, who were temporarily taken care of near Leidseplein.
After a long period of renovation, the official opening of Hotel Arena took place on 7 February 2002. The Sint Elisabeth Gesticht was definitively transformed into a unique and multifunctional catering facility with hotel rooms, a café-restaurant, bar and club.
In addition to the beautifully renovated parts of the hotel, the history has always remained intact. On the east side of the hotel you will find the old chimney that is a protected monument. With a height of around 35 meters, it is one of the few remaining high chimneys in the capital. At the front of the hotel (in front of the Chapel) there is also the 'protected gem'; the Lourdes grotto.