After the completion of the restoration of the Sloterkerk, the Friends of the Sloterkerk Foundation was established. The aim of this foundation is to promote, provide and carry out cultural activities in the Sloterkerk. The well-known and appreciated matinee concerts in the Sloterkerk on Sunday afternoons express this. Soloists, ensembles and choirs enjoy coming to make music there.
Concert agenda Sloterkerk
Information about the next matinee concert and our further program can be found on our events page. You can also sign up for the newsletter about upcoming concerts.
Podcast about the history of the Sloterkerk
Based on reliable sources AI created this short podcast about the history of the Sloterkerk. It is a good introduction to the history of the church and our aim for the future:
Timeline Sloterkerk
993: Possible first mention of a chapel in Sloten in a document (on which a later charter from 1063 would be based).
1063: First confirmed mention of the chapel at ‘Scloten’ in a charter from Bishop William I of Gelre. The chapel was located south of Slotermeer Lake, possibly near today’s Osdorpplein.
Circa 1175: The village of Sloten moves to its present location on Sloterweg, possibly because of flooding.
Early 13th century: A stone church dedicated to St. Pancras is built at the new location, approximately where the current church stands. It is possible that the church was moved slightly in the early 13th century, based on archaeological findings from 1991.
1572: The church is largely destroyed by the Beggars during the Siege of Haarlem in the Eighty Years’ War.
1594: Oldest (anonymous) drawing of the destroyed church, probably drawn from memory.
Circa 1645: Etching by Geertruyd Roghman shows the ruin of the church, with only the western part (entrance portal under the tower) restored.
1650: Painting by Jan Abrahamsz. Beerstraten shows the church with a new, modest choir.
1654: Remains of the destroyed choir are demolished.
1664: Restoration of the nave. The church is used for Protestant worship.
1850: Knipscheer organ is installed.
1857: Inspector of the Provincial Water Board, J. Keijzer, notes serious decay and recommends demolition.
March 27, 1860: First stone of the present church is laid by Jonkheer J.W.G. Boreel van Hogelanden.
1861: The present Sloterkerk, a Waterstaatskerk designed by P.J. Hamer, is consecrated. Elements of the old church, such as the Knipscheer organ, the lecterns and chandeliers, are reused.
1960: First restoration of the Sloterkerk. The tower is demolished and rebuilt.
1965: After five years the tower proves to be dilapidated and has to be demolished and rebuilt again.
1991: Excavations on the village square shed light on the foundation of the settlement around 1175.
2003: Second restoration of the Sloterkerk, including renovation of the floor, ceilings and windows. The church is made suitable for cultural activities.
2011: Unveiling of a wall anchor in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Sloterkerk by descendants of the Boreel family.