Nevsky Prospekt 20.
The house of the Dutch Reformed Church or the Dutch Church is a former temple of the Dutch Reformed Church, an architectural monument of late Russian classicism, built in 1834-1839 according to the design of Pavel Petrovich Zhako. It is located in St. Petersburg at three addresses: Nevsky Prospekt, 20, Embankment of the Moika River, 44 and Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street, 31.
Immigrants from Western Europe, largely because of the sympathies of
Peter I, played a prominent role in the early history of St. Petersburg,
in connection with which at the very beginning of the 18th century. the
city housed a number of non-Orthodox religious churches, cathedrals and
communities (that is, confessions that differed from the Russian
Orthodox Church). Many were Protestant, among them the Dutch Reformed
Church. The issue of non-Orthodox services in private homes was given in
1721 by Peter I to the jurisdiction of the newly established Synod. In
1708, the Dutch of St. Petersburg acquired the opportunity to pray in a
small wooden Lutheran church at the court of Cornelius Kruys, who was
then Vice Admiral. In 1717, a certain H. G. Grube became the pastor of
this Dutch congregation of only 36 members.
Before the 1917
revolution
On October 5, 1725, this given to Major General Pyotr
Petrovich Lefort was issued from the Main Police to the courtyard
located in St. Petersburg, at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the
Moika River Embankment. It shows that the widow of the architect J.-B.
Leblon Marfa and their son Ivan mortgaged their yard for three thousand
rubles to Peter Lefort, and then "conceded to him Lefort for the
aforementioned borrowed money for three thousand rubles forever."
(RGADA. Fund 265, inventory 1, file 41, 1725, sheet 182-rev.) In 1733,
P.P. Lefort sold his courtyard to the Dutch Reformed Church in St.
Petersburg.
In 1724, the Dutch community purchased the house of
Pierre Pusi, located on the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and the Moika
River Embankment. A Dutch school worked in this house. Somewhat later,
the church itself was rebuilt into a one-story house, bought on April 6,
1733 for 1,500 rubles, a one-story house was purchased. Three years
later, in the summer of 1736, both buildings burned down.
A new
building for the church was erected only in 1742 with funds, most of
which came from the Netherlands. The new church already accommodated 250
people and had rather intricate interiors.
wooden carving is painted
in azure color, floral ornament is gilded ... Men sit on the right hand,
women - on the left
In 1771, the room intended for prayers was
expanded, and in 1772 an organ made by the master Gubkram was installed
in it. The headman and pastor of the community lived in a stone house
bought for them in 1778 at the intersection of Nevsky Prospekt and
Bolshaya Konyushennaya Street. Over time, despite its spaciousness and
spaciousness, the building no longer corresponded to its purpose and the
architectural ensemble of the avenue. In 1797, I. Kroeber proposed to
build a new church - much grander and larger than the old one, but his
plans were destined to remain on paper.
Since 1833, the bookstore
of F. Bellizar has been located in the building of the Dutch Church.
Part of the premises was occupied by the board of the Society for the
Encouragement of Artists, which organized here in 1837 the first art
lottery in Russia. In the house on Nevsky, 20 regular art exhibitions
were held. In 1839-1841, the editorial office of Otechestvennye zapiski
of A. A. Kraevsky was located here. Leading Russian writers of the
middle of the 19th century (V. F. Odoevsky, V. A. Zhukovsky, D. V.
Davydov and others) collaborated with the journal, in whose department
of criticism V. G. Belinsky worked.
From the side of Nevsky
Prospekt, the building stands out with a Corinthian portico with four
large white columns, between which there is an entrance. The church is
designed in the form of a rotunda topped with a gentle dome.
After the October Revolution of 1917, the church parish was
significantly reduced. In 1926, the cessation of worship was announced,
a year later, the building was nationalized, the Dutch Church was
closed. The church organ was dismantled and transferred to the Singing
Chapel. All the premises of the temple were transferred to the Leningrad
Puppet Theater. On November 19, 1933, the New Theater was opened here
with the play “Mad Money” based on the play by A. N. Ostrovsky (directed
by I. Kroll, who led the troupe until 1937). A fire that broke out in
the Dutch Church House in 1936 destroyed most of the theater premises,
the troupe moved to another building.
In 1936, the Dutch Church
was reconstructed (designed by architect B.L. Vasilyev), and the city
public library named after V.I. A. A. Blok. In 1969-1971, the church
interior was restored.
In the autumn of 1988, on the basis of the
library, the Leningrad Association of Free Artists (TSKh) was formed,
later renamed the Association of Free Artists of St. Petersburg (in
December 1991). TSH existed on Nevsky, 20 until a major fire on February
19, 2004, as a result of which the library lost part of its collections
(albums on the history of art, musical publications, records). The total
fire area (second and third floors + attic and roof) was about two
thousand square meters. After the repair, the halls were reopened in
February 2005, shortly after which the status and name of the library
were changed to: "Nevsky, 20" - the Center for Art and Music of the
Library. V. V. Mayakovsky. Until now, the Center for Art and Music has
been pursuing an active exhibition and concert policy. The main
exposition space of the center is the rotunda of the Dutch Church,
personal exhibitions of famous St. Petersburg artists, sculptors and
photographers were shown here, such as: Aron Zinshtein, Anatoly
Zaslavsky, Oleg Yakhnin, Robert Lotosh, Alexey Parygin, Andrey
Korolchuk, Artur Molev, Vadim Bo, Khachatur Bely, Natalia Manelis and
many others. Another, somewhat smaller exposition hall, is located on
the first floor of the Dutch Church.
In the 1960s-1980s, on the
first floor of the house from Nevsky Prospekt, there was a
cafe-automatic machine "Minutka", which sold pies (costing 6-20 kopecks)
with a variety of fillings (carrots, rice, onions, fish, meat, eggs,
blueberries, sausages and egg in the dough); tea, coffee and broths in
mugs.
For many years in the building of the Dutch Church
(entrance from Nevsky Prospekt) there was a bookstore "House of Military
Books" (founded in 1920). The store closed to visitors in 2012.
From 1994 onward and continuing to the present day, the ground floor
of the House of Radio (former Noble Assembly building) has housed the
popular Subway fast-food outlet. This space occupies the exact location
of the Soviet-era “Minutka” café, a modest spot beloved by locals for
quick bites. The interiors and redevelopment were designed by architects
V. O. Ukhov and S. Nefedov, who modernized the area while respecting the
building’s overall character.
Adjacent to or integrated with this
commercial space is the art space Biblioteka (Library), a
multifunctional venue that cleverly combines a stylish restaurant with a
vibrant youth cultural center. It regularly hosts exhibitions, lectures,
creative meetings, and informal gatherings, adding a dynamic
contemporary layer to the historic building.
In 2000, the building’s
facade underwent a color change: it was repainted from its previous blue
tones to a more neutral and elegant gray, aligning with ongoing
maintenance and aesthetic updates in the historic center.
A notable
controversy arose at the end of January 2020, when the original
historical balcony grilles on the building’s facade were dismantled
without prior approval from KGIOP (the Committee for State Control, Use
and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments). This unauthorized
alteration to a federal cultural heritage site prompted the opening of a
criminal case for violating the protected historical appearance of the
monument. Such incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing
modern use with preservation in St. Petersburg’s historic core.
Exterior Architecture
The structure presents as a multi-functional
urban building rather than a traditional standalone church with domes or
bell towers, reflecting Classicist restraint and integration into the
streetscape. The main facade on Nevsky Prospekt is the most elaborate:
A grand four-column Corinthian portico dominates the central section,
with fluted columns supporting an entablature and pediment. This creates
a temple-like frontispiece typical of Neoclassicism, evoking ancient
Greek/Roman grandeur adapted to Russian imperial tastes.
The tympanum
(pediment triangle) features a high-relief sculpture depicting angels
holding an open Bible, a symbolic Protestant element emphasizing
scripture. A Latin inscription once adorned the pediment but has not
survived.
The overall design uses symmetrical proportions, clean
lines, and restrained ornamentation. The building rises several stories,
with the portico emphasizing verticality and dignity.
Side wings
(along Nevsky and Moika) originally housed commercial spaces (shops) and
lodgings on the ground floors, with the church proper elevated above.
This mixed-use approach was practical for a Protestant congregation in a
bustling commercial artery.
Materials likely include stone/plaster
for the facade, with painted or stucco finishes common in St. Petersburg
Classicism to achieve a monumental yet elegant appearance against the
urban fabric.
The corner position at Nevsky and Moika enhances
its visibility and civic presence. Earlier structures on the site
included a pastor’s house, but Jacot’s design unified and expanded it
significantly.
Interior Architecture
The church hall occupies
the second floor and is the architectural highlight:
Circular
(rotunda-like) plan — an elegant, centralized space seating up to about
400 people. Circular halls were favored in Neoclassicism for their
harmonious proportions and acoustic qualities in worship spaces.
Twin
Corinthian columns decorate the interior, providing rhythmic
articulation, structural support, and classical elegance. These likely
frame the space or support galleries/entablature.
Vaulted ceiling
with paintings by artist Vasilyev. The modeling (stucco or sculptural
details) was executed by I. Balin.
The design prioritizes simplicity,
light, and focus on the pulpit/Bible (aligning with Reformed Protestant
traditions that emphasize preaching over ornate ritual). Large windows
would have provided natural illumination, enhanced by the elevated
position.
An notable organ was installed: originally by master
Friedrich (ca. 1830), with a later 1891 German Romantic organ by E.F.
Walker that incorporated the older facade (designed with Jacot’s input).
This organ facade is one of the oldest in Russia and a decorative art
monument; it was relocated to the Capella concert hall after closure.
The lower levels and wings contained functional spaces: shops,
apartments, exhibition areas (e.g., Society for the Encouragement of
Artists), and later editorial offices (such as Otechestvennye zapiski in
1839).
Historical Context and Later Adaptations
The building
served the Dutch (and broader Protestant, including German) community in
St. Petersburg, with the church consecrated in 1834 in the presence of
Dutch royalty (Prince of Orange and son). By 1917, the parish was around
300, mostly German. It closed in 1927 during Soviet nationalization.
Interiors were significantly altered when converted to a puppet theater
and other uses (theaters, libraries, cafes, bookstore “House of the
Military Book”). The central part now houses the Alexander Blok Library
(a branch of the Mayakovsky Library, focused on art and music). The
rotunda has been restored in parts and is accessible during exhibitions
or tours.
Jacot’s work exemplifies late Russian Neoclassicism under
Nicholas I: Empire-influenced restraint, monumental scale, and
integration of foreign architectural talent (Jacot trained in Paris). It
contrasts with more ornate Baroque or emerging Revival styles in the
city while fitting the neoclassical ensemble of central St. Petersburg.
Accessibility and Location: Prime central spot on Nevsky Prospect,
near the Moika River. Extremely walkable as part of a stroll from the
Admiralty, Kazan Cathedral, or Stroganov Palace area. Combine with
nearby Lutheran and Armenian churches for a “foreign confessions on
Nevsky” theme.
How to Get There:
Metro: Admiralteyskaya (5 min
walk) or Nevsky Prospekt/Gostiny Dvor (8-10 min).
Bus/Trolley: Many
routes along Nevsky.
On Foot or Bike: Ideal; the area is
pedestrian-friendly (watch for traffic).
From Airport: Aeroexpress to
Vitebsky or Moskovsky station, then metro or taxi (~30-50 min).
Best Time to Visit: Anytime, but daytime for exterior views and possible
interior access. Summer (white nights) offers long evenings and vibrant
street life. Avoid peak tourist rush (midday weekends) for quieter
photos. Winters are magical with lights but cold and slippery.
Opening Hours and Access: The building is not a full public museum.
Parts (especially the library or exhibition spaces) may be accessible
during events, tours, or business hours. Check locally or via cultural
listings for art exhibitions or concerts in the rotunda — these can be
free or low-cost. Exterior viewing is always possible. Inquire at the
entrance or nearby info points for current access.
What to Expect and
Do:
Admire the facade and dome from Nevsky or the Green Bridge
over the Moika.
If open, explore the rotunda for its architecture and
any temporary exhibits.
Take photos from multiple angles, including
the embankment.
Nearby: Pyshki (donut) cafe for a Soviet-era snack
break; continue to other Nevsky landmarks.
Duration: 15-45 minutes,
depending on interior access.
Practical Tips:
Tickets/Fees:
Generally free for exterior; interior may have small fees for events.
Dress Code: Modest if attending any cultural/religious-adjacent event,
but casual for sightseeing.
Photography: Allowed outside; check rules
inside for exhibitions.
Crowds: Less touristy than major cathedrals —
peaceful compared to Spilled Blood or Kazan.
Facilities: Limited
on-site; use nearby cafes or malls for restrooms.
Weather: St.
Petersburg is rainy — bring an umbrella. The building is sturdy but
pavements can be uneven.
Language: English signage is limited;
Russian helps, or use a translation app. Guided tours (if arranged)
provide deeper history.
Safety: Central tourist area — standard
precautions. Watch belongings in crowds.