
This school building, once a Christian primary school, now serves multiple purposes and activities of the Coptic Orthodox community.
Location
Coptic Cultural Centre Maria Mercurius
Mosstraat 1
Type
Community centre
Religious community
Coptic Orthodox Church
Object
Mosaic with the name of the Coptic Cultural Centre Maria Mercurius
Maker and date
Adel Nassif
ca. 2010
Visit
The mosaic can be viewed on the facade of the building
The Coptic Cultural Center on Mosstraat in Amsterdam-Noord is today a vibrant place where faith, education, culture, and community spirit come together. In this former school building, a wide range of activities take place that connect the Coptic community in the Netherlands and invite others to become acquainted with the rich Coptic heritage and the civilization of ancient Egypt.
Since its official opening by the late Pope Shenouda III on October 16, 2010, the building has provided space for Sunday school services, youth activities, meetings, and sports, as well as for prayer and spiritual deepening in the church area dedicated to Saint Abi-Sefein Mercurius. International students live in specially designed residential units, contributing to the international and dynamic atmosphere of the center.
The Coptic Cultural Center has become an important meeting place where culture, faith, and education converge. The Cultural Center supports academic research in the field of Coptic studies at the Universities of Leiden, Groningen, and Nijmegen, organizes conferences and lectures, and opens its doors to students conducting research or participating in prayers in Coptic. At the same time, the Coptic Cultural Center encourages newcomers to find their place in Dutch society through language courses and training programs.
In this way, the Coptic Cultural Center has grown into a powerful hub in Amsterdam-Noord, a place that not only strengthens the Coptic community but also contributes to the cultural diversity and cohesion of the city of Amsterdam as a whole.
Leden van de Projectcommissie van het Koptisch-Orthodoxe Bisdom van Nederland
Last edited
September 15, 2025
Mosaic on the facade of the Coptic Cultural Centre Marius Mercury, 2024. Photography André Hanna.
Anba Arseny, Een stralende kaars: de koptische kerk in Nederland (Koptisch-Orthodox Bisdom van Nederland 2023).
Arseny, A., Een stralende kaars: de koptische kerk in Nederland (Koptisch-Orthodox Bisdom van Nederland 2023).
Online sources
Youtube-kanaal van het Koptisch Orthodox Bisdom
Last visited 28-05-2025
Website van het Koptisch-Orthodox Bisdom
Last visited 28-05-2025