The College of Huiszittenmeesters was an urban institution established in Amsterdam as early as around 1400. This institution took care of ‘house-sitting’ poor - people who lived in poverty but had their own home. They received support in the form of alms such as bread, butter and peat. The Huiszittenmeesters were closely linked to the Oude Kerk; here they distributed alms, maintained an altar and held their office. When the church was expanded with a series of side chapels between 1493 and 1510, the College of Huiszittenmeesters decided to contribute to the construction by founding a chapel.
The College of Huiszittenmeesters consisted of influential citizens, some of whom also served the city as aldermen or mayors. Therefore, it is not surprising that the College was able to build a chapel in addition to the
guild
s and wealthy mayors. However, it cannot be determined exactly which house sitting master initiated or supervised the construction of the chapel - records are lacking for this.
The St Hieronymus altar, which had previously been cared for elsewhere in the church by the Huiszittenmeesters, was moved to the new chapel. Masses took place here and alms were distributed. Shortly after construction, a side room was added to the chapel, which served as the College's office. When the Huiszittenmeesters moved to a new building on Waterlooplein in 1654, this room was used as the
Kerkmeesterskamer
(Church Wardens Room).
The Consequences of the "
Beeldenstorm
"
In Catholic times, the Oude Kerk housed numerous statues of saints and
altars
dedicated to specific saints. These did not survive the Beeldenstorm - a period of iconoclast outbreaks throughout Northern Europe - and the subsequent
Alteration
.Indeed, for Protestants, richly decorated altars and statues of saints were considered idolatry; they sought a sober church interior that would not distract attention from worship. Even the St Hieronymus altar that stood in the Huiszittenkapel did not survive this period.
In addition, after the Alteration, the
vault paintings
of the Old Church were painted over; this was also done to create a more austere church interior. During the restoration that began in 1955, the vault paintings were largely restored. Since then, the vault of the Housesitter's Chapel again features two images; of Christ as Man of Sorrows and of the Mercy Seat. Both images thematically tie in with the College of Huiszittenmeesters.
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