The Westkerk was officially opened on Whitsunday 1631; it is one of the oldest and largest originally Protestant churches remaining in the Netherlands. The tower bears the symbol of the imperial crown of Maximilian of Austria – given to the city as a display of gratitude for support given to the Austro-Burgundian princes. The tuned bells, or ‘carillon’, made by Francois Hemony, were restored in 1959 and are played every Tuesday from 12 to 1 o’clock.
