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History
of the church; architecture
The parish Our Lady Queen of Peace was founded on 8
December 1918. The name of parish and church building are clearly connected
with the end of World War I that same year.
The church was consecrated by bishop Callier from Harlem on 7 August 1924. Before
that time, in what used to be a livery stable, there was a temporary church
on the Ceintuurbaan called “The stable of Bethlehem”.
When the construction started, Jos Bekkers, the architect of the Vredeskerk
was 31 years old. His motto was: “Seeing everything on the altar”, that is;
no pillars blocking the view.
 His father, P.J. (Peter) Bekkers (1859-1918) was a pupil of Pierre
Cuypers (1827-1921). Since 1815 Catholics were again permitted to profess
their religion, which enabled Cuypers to restore numerous churches and build
new ones in neo-Gothic style throughout the country.
In Amsterdam he also built the Rijksmuseum (National Museum, finished in
1885) and Central Station (finished in 1889).
H.P. Berlage (1856-1934) was part of a new generation; he strongly emphasized
the 'language' of the materials used (especially Dutch brick), the
simplification of forms (huge walls, constructive use of natural stone) and
austerity of ornamentation.
Bourse of Berlage
In this context it is interesting to compare the tower of the Vredeskerk with
that of the famous Beurs van Berlage (Bourse of Berlage) on the Damrak
(finished in 1903). But it resembles even more the tower of “De Boom” (The
Tree), church of St. Francis, 1911), because of the tile decoration of the
gables; this church is situated on the Admiraal de Ruyterweg in West
Amsterdam, and was built by Bekkers’ father.
 Amsterdam School
For some time, Jos Bekkers himself worked for the architect’s firm of Eduard
Cuypers (1859-1927), a cousin of Pierre Cuypers. Around 1910 three pupils of
his had founded the 'Amsterdam School' with its expressive use of brick and
rich ornamentation. At the time when Jos Bekkers was employed, E. Cuypers was
constructing many big buildings in a rather austere fashion, while paying a
lot of attention to fine brickwork and measured decoration.
In their austere forms, broad coverings, and simple ornamental brickwork, his
churches and chapels from the twenties are more or less related to the
Vredeskerk.
Victim of World War II
Jos Bekkers was a victim of World War II. For unknown reasons, he was
arrested in July 1944 by the Germans, and died in the concentration camp of
Buchenwald on 21 January 1945.
The neighbourhood in which the church is situated is on the edge of the old
working-class district “De Pijp” and is the link to the “respectable”
Rivierenbuurt (River district) and the “expensive” Oud-Zuid (Old-South). Part
of the area was developed in the twenties by the catholic housing
corporations “Het Oosten” (The East) and “Amsteldijk”. That is why this
neighbourhood was called “Het Papendorp” (Pope Town). It was blessed with
many children. In the fifties and sixties up to 30 children from each porch
(with 6 upstairs apartments) went to the schools around the church every
morning. On Sundays some 5000 people went to church, spread over five masses.
Population
Nowadays the composition of the population is completely different. Per
apartment there are much fewer people, often one or two, in many cases
elderly people or (former) students. Compared with the early days few
children live in the area. The present residents often come from abroad and
are non-Christian. As a community it is a challenge to connect old and new
residents and fellow-citizens under these changed circumstances, and to
preserve a church whose maintenance is very costly.
Our church and all its art objects want to guide to and make something
visible of the Mystery of God, to which everything around us bears witness
and in which all men live, move and exist.
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