Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), Hague

The New Church in The Hague (Nieuwe Kerk) is a Protestant Dutch Baroque temple. Its construction began in 1648, during the time of the Protestant conquest in The Netherlands, and was completed in 1656. The unique design, created by the architect Pieter Noorwits, is considered a notable example of early Dutch Protestant church architecture. Unlike most Protestant churches of that era, which had a rounded floor plan, Noorwits designed the New Church with two octagonal areas connected by a slightly smaller section where the pulpit was placed, following the Protestant principle of centralization. This design incorporates elements of both the Renaissance and Classicism architectural styles.

The church features two bells, one with a diameter of 100.2 centimeters and the other with a diameter of 81.5 centimeters, both cast in 1656 by Coenraat Wegewaert, who also designed the church's clock. Another noteworthy aspect is the organ, constructed by the Dutch master Johannes Duyschot in 1702, which was later modified in 1867 to accommodate more modern Romantic music.

During the 20th century, various adjustments were made to improve the acoustics of the interior. In 1969, the building underwent an extensive renovation and was reopened as a concert hall.

In the past, the New Church was primarily accessible by boat until the end of the 19th century when the canals surrounding the site were filled in.

Among the notable figures buried in the New Church is the 17th-century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza.