Inauguration of the exhibition ‘The many faces of Katharina’ at the Luther Museum Amsterdam. Photo by Victor Wennekes.
The Lutheran heritage in the Netherlands is a treasure that deserves to be cherished and passed on. But how do we ensure this rich history is preserved and remains visible for future generations? With our ‘Active Lutheran Heritage’ project, the Luther Museum Amsterdam is diving into Lutheran heritage across the country this year —and we are looking to expand this to partners across Europe!
500 years of Lutherans in The Netherlands
In 2025, the city of Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary. Not many people know that the Lutheran community has been part of that history for 500 years. The first Lutherans, Norwegian sailors and German traders, entered the city in the 1520s. This summer, the Luther Museum Amsterdam focused on this 500 years of this Lutheran presence —and thus the connection of the Lutheran community with the city and the country.
For this special occasion, we installed a work of art on the façade of the Old Lutheran Church (1631) in the middle of the old city center. It was a gift and a symbolic ode to the city, where the Lutheran community could be and could stay, where Lutherans were not only allowed to profess their faith but could also develop, while retaining their individuality, traditions, and customs. It was also a statement of sorts: we are still here, and as minority community, we have a relevant story to tell for the present, and questions to ask. The artwork was a metaphor for looking from the present to both the past and the future. With it, we wanted to reflect on what is seen and what remains hidden, and also how migrants and minorities are an essential part of what we are as a whole, i.e. together as society.
Heritage at the Luther Museum Amsterdam
Poster of the exhibition ‘The many faces of Katharina’, at the Luther Museum Amsterdam.
For many Lutheran churches in the Netherlands, it has been thirty years since their heritage was last inventoried. That’s a long time, and much has changed since then. The Luther Museum aims to support churches and communities in re-inventorying and reevaluating their collections. Together, we can make informed decisions about preservation and the future, especially as churches face closures, mergers, or repurposing.
But this project goes beyond safeguarding objects. We want to keep Lutheran heritage visible and alive. Think of collaborations where unique objects find a home in the museum’s collection or are loaned back to churches as “living heritage.” We’re preparing the an exhibition ‘Under the Swan’ in 2026 to showcase the most remarkable Lutheran objects and stories from across the Netherlands in the museum.
Already this autumn, since 24 October 2025, ‘The many faces of Katharina von Bora‘ addresses the role of women in the Lutheran community with an exhibition and publication about the public image and legacy of Katharina von Bora, the wife of Martin Luther, This exhibition has been organized in collaboration with different museums and institutions across Europe.
What can we achieve together?
Our aim as museum, is to connect Lutheran history with the present, with relevant social issues and with art and music. The influence of Martin Luther, as the original church reformer – activist and influencer avant la lettre – on European history and culture is undeniable. It is an influence that goes beyond religious practice, reaches towards music (Bach, Mendelssohn), painting (Cranach), books (the first translation of the bible for the ‘common people’), but also into spiritual, philosophical realms and social practice. Comparable to the European project, the Lutherans form a multinational communion with a strong tradition, living and working together for a just, peaceful, and reconciled world. It strives to put faith into action through humanitarian and development work, advocacy, shared witness, and dialogue and culture.
In our presentations and public programs, the Luther Museum in Amsterdam is connected to both the tangible and intangible heritage of the Lutheran minority community in the Netherlands. We have developed concrete ideas to keep Lutheran history and heritage vibrant, such as our assistance with Heritage Valuation, a podcast series: Voices of Lutherans, an effective Oral History Workshop, and traveling exhibitions.
Marriage Portrait of Martin Luther and Katharina of Bora (1525 – 1526) by Lucas Cranach.
Inauguration of the exhibition ‘The many faces of Katharina’ at the Luther Museum Amsterdam. Photo by Victor Wennekes.
Let’s start the conversation!
The Luther Museum wants to connect with heritage institutions across Europe to explore collaborative opportunities. This may involve the exchange of knowledge and experience, or collection items, developing exhibition ideas or digital strategies together, working towards collaborative European fundraising, or raising awareness. We’re eager to meet and share ideas. If you’re interested, let us know, and we’ll schedule a meeting! Together, we can ensure that minority heritage in Europe is not only preserved but thrives. Our history is too valuable to forget—let’s create something beautiful with it!
Steven van Teeseling
director, Luther Museum Amsterdam
steven@luthermuseum.nl
Published on 5 November 2025
Follow us: