Oude Kerk, Amsterdam

The Oude Kerk is the oldest building in Amsterdam, a church consecrated in 1306 that now stands, unusually, at the centre of the city's red-light district. Its wooden vaulted ceiling is among the largest medieval examples in Europe, and the floor is paved with thousands of gravestones, including that of Rembrandt's first wife. Long stripped of statues during the Reformation, the airy interior is used for contemporary art installations as well as worship. A tower climb offers views over the canals and the tightly packed historic centre.