After the Alteration in 1578, the Oude Kerk became a nonconformist Protestant Church and thus the focal point shifted from the altar to the minister on the pulpit. These pews were added around the columns of the nave circa 1600. From here, important people, such as sitting and retired aldermen, church wardens, and professors from the Athenaeum Illustre (predecessor of the University of Amsterdam) had a good view of the preacher.

With the establishment of the Batavian Republic in 1795, new ideas emerged about the relationship between church and state. These ideas permeated the philosophy of the Oude Kerk, which in the spirit of social equality removed the privatized pews from the church. However, in 1802 these pews were reinstalled, so that the church council could lease them out, of which the white lettering on the doors is a remnant. Nowadays everyone can make use of these pews.

Period	17th century
Dimensions	H. 270 cm, b. 390 cm
Notes	voormalige oud-schepenenbank.In 1795 uit de kerk verwijderd en in 1802 weer herplaatst.
Location	Middenschip
Number of parts	1

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