The Pieterskerk - the oldest parish church of Leiden - is a late Gothic church. In 1121 the church was consecrated a court chapel for the Counts of Holland. The building was dedicated to the apostle Peter
The current church took approximately 180 years to build, starting in 1390.

The church was a catholic church, but during the so called beeldenstorm (attack on the images or statues) in the year of 1566 Calvinists attacked the church to destroy Catholic choir books, statues, and an altarpiece. Shortly after, the church was closed prior to being converted into a Protestant church. The original windows were destroyed in a gunpowder explosion in 1807. The windows were boarded up, and it wasn't until 1880 that a large-scale restoration took place.

The Pieterskerk used to have a tower, eventually reaching 110 meters (including the 35-meter-tall wooden spire). It collapsed in 1512, but the tower was not restored and the church remains towerless.

Before 1811 many prominent people were buried in the Pieterskerk, such as the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius, scientist Herman Boerhaave, painter Jan Steen, John Robinson, pastor of the "Pilgrim Fathers" and Rembrandt’s parents.
The church was deconsecrated in 1971 and since 1975 has been managed by a foundation and is used for a wide range of events. It is also a ‘kind of a nuseum’ and can be visited for a small fee.

(To be honest, we were not very impressed by the interior. The huge hall makes a rather empty impression and there is not very much to see. Add to that the choir was full of furniture from the café next door. Then again, the beautiful Church Trustees Room - of which we saw a picture in the church - cannot be visited. All in all: rather disappointing)