The final noteworthy landmark on Dam Square is Nieuwe Kerk. The name New Church is relative. It was meant to augment the nearby Old Church (Oude Kerk) when the parish grew too large. Original construction began in 1385 and was finished in 1408. After an extensive fire in the mid-17th century, this west façade was given a Gothic design. For two hundred years, Nieuwe Kerk has been the site of royal weddings, inaugurations and state ceremonies. The first was the investiture of Willem I, King of the Netherlands, in 1814.
