Although no one knows for certain, it’s believed that Amsterdam’s oldest stone building, the Oude Kerk, was erected at the end of the 13th or possibly the beginning of the 14th century. The important edifice wasn’t only used for religious purposes and often served as a safe for precious documents, a treasury and also a homeless shelter as the city’s indigent were allowed to spend the night here until the Calvinists came to power in the 16th century. It was also the place where couples had to register their intentions to marry as Rembrandt and his bride Saskia did in 1638. She’s buried on the far end of the building opposite the entrance. The church was added onto over the centuries but eventually ran out of space to grow and then it suffered a huge blow when protestant demonstrators looted churches across the Netherlands in 1566 damaging priceless art works in the process. The historic monument and its wooden ceiling were on the verge of collapse in the 20th century and it was finally closed in 1951 for lengthy restoration. In 1979 it was again opened to the public and is now one of the city’s most visited attractions.