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The Buiksloterkerk is a church in Amsterdam Noord, and it counts as the oldest monument in that part of the city. For centuries it stood on a terp, a raised mound, in the middle of the fields behind the village of Buiksloot and the IJ river. The sources describe it as a 16th century church, though one listing gives the year 1709, which likely points to a later phase of the building rather than its first construction. Today it sits in a very green setting, which gives the visit a quieter, more village like feel than much of central Amsterdam. The building was completely restored to its former glory in 1995, thanks to the efforts of the Buiksloterkerk Foundation, and it has served a cultural and social purpose ever since. It is no longer only a place of worship but a venue for concerts, events and meetings, and it is also rented out as a location for gatherings. Descriptions of the space stress its serene atmosphere, which suits music played in an intimate, acoustic setting. That character has drawn performers who like to work in churches. The singer Patricia, for example, filmed a live session here as part of a church tour of Amsterdam. For a concert goer, the appeal lies in the combination of a historic interior, a calm location across the water from the city centre, and the kind of listening conditions a small old church tends to offer. It is a good example of how a protected monument in Amsterdam Noord has found a second life as a place for culture.