Lutherse Kerk (Lutheran Church), Leiden

The Evangelical Lutheran Church (Lutherse Kerk) in Leiden holds the distinction of being the oldest church in the city specifically built for Protestant services. Constructed in 1618, this historic church traces its origins to the establishment of a Lutheran congregation in 1588.

Initially meeting in locations such as the Groenhazengracht and Jerusalemshof, the congregation's rapid growth prompted the preacher Gesuinus Mulhemius to collect funds from German cities in 1617. These funds enabled the purchase of a bustling courtyard known as the "Wasp's Nest" on Hooglandse Kerkgracht, where the church was built as a hidden church. Due to restrictions against non-Calvinist denominations building prominent churches, the structure was discreetly situated behind a row of houses, accessible via a bluestone gate.

The church expanded with galleries to host German and Scandinavian migrants attracted by Leiden's university and cloth industry. An orphanage was later added behind the church, connected by a door. Renovations funded by Queen Sophie of Wurttemberg included demolishing nearby houses, adding a consistory, and a new façade with a tower designed by Hendrik Jesse in 1888. The tower was later removed before World War II due to its poor condition, with the weather vane preserved inside the church.

In 1989, the church was designated as a national monument, securing its place as a significant historical and cultural landmark in Leiden. Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church serves as a testament to the city's religious and architectural history, with its understated origins and evolving presence reflecting the resilience and growth of its community over centuries.