1 MAY UNTIL 8 OCTOBER – ALKMAAR

Stairway to heaven

The great church or ‘Grote kerk’ is 500 years old. To celebrate, we have created a stairway so you can finally admire the view enjoyed from the church at a height of 40 meters. This is as close as you will get to heaven in Alkmaar. You can also enter the church through a window, where adorning the vaulted ceiling you will find the magnificent painting The Last Judgement by the renowned painter Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen.

Note: buy a combi-ticket! For only 7,50 euro extra you can also go to the Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar + the altarpiece by Maarten van Heemskerck in the Grote Kerk. These two extra tickets are valid until October 2018. Only available by online ordering! The Stedelijk Museum Alkmaar and the Grote Kerk are closed on Mondays; Stairway to heaven is open 7 days a week.

Be sure to visit and buy your tickets via this website!

De Klim is open until 8 October 2018!

Photo album

Information

Practical

Things to take into account:

Secure tickets and buy them online. Tickets can also be bought at the checkout, but then they can be sold out.
Backpacks (daypacks or school backpacks) and bags larger than A4 size are not permitted. Lockers are available for use. Please ask at the cash desk.
Maximum visit is 1 hour. Five minutes before time you leave the Climb.
Smoking, alcohol or drug use is not permitted.
In mid-May we hope to be able to make available a lift for people with a physical disability.
Umbrellas are not allowed on the Climb. You can hand it into custody at dedicated umbrella shelves.
On your visit our House Rules or general conditions apply.

Opening hours & rates

The stairway is open every day of the week!

From 1 May to 8 October 2018
Monday to Wednesday: from 11:00 to 17:00
Thursday: from 11.00 till sunset
Friday to Sunday: from 10.00 to 18.00
Adults: per person € 8.50 online or € 9.50 at the cash desk
Children: up to 6 years: € 1, -
If you order online, we charge a one-off € 1.50 administration fee
There are at least 7 shifts of 1 hour per day. 150 visitors can go up per shift

Hidden stories

The Last Judgment and view of city & country

Through the stairs you climb to a balcony at 20 meters altitude for the first view over the city of Alkmaar.
From this balcony you step through a church window via a footbridge in the church.
Now you see the first hidden story: the vault The Final Judgment (1519) by Van Oostsanen.
The air bridge through the nave of the church (20 meters long) also offers a magnificent view of the interior of the church.
Leave the church and climb 20 meters up from the balcony, walk through the roof to the church tower & discover the second hidden story: the magnificent view of city & country!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I easily get to Climb to Heaven?

We advise you to come by train or bus. From the railway station you can walk to the Grote Kerk in barely a quarter of an hour, which is also the heart of the city.
Where can I park?

You can park in various places in and around the city center. For more information is available on the Parkeerservice Alkmaar website.
Can I pay with cash at the cash desk?

You can only pay for tickets at the box office by debit card. Even better you buy your tickets in advance via this website, because then you are guaranteed a ticket and you are not disappointed when the tickets are sold out.

Volunteers make the climb possible

Without help from volunteers, 'Stairway to heaven' is not possible. Vrijwilligers Centrale Regio Alkmaar (VCRA) is our partner to coordinate the efforts of the volunteers for this project. In total, nearly 800 volunteers are involved. Do you want to give the necessary respect for these volunteers? Want to know more about VCRA? Look at

Partners

Unique and special initiatives such as Stairway to Heaven give an enormous dynamic to the city of Alkmaar, and that is good for everyone. Would you like to know more about sponsoring?
Contact Ron Huiberts: m 00 31 6 46 02 48 87.