The municipality of Amsterdam was looking for a new owner for a derelict school building on Mosstraat in Amsterdam North. Their condition was that the educational, cultural and social functions of the building are preserved. Moreover, the characteristic architecture must be preserved as well. The costs of the necessary repairs will be borne by the new owner.

On 30 November 2007, the building was transferred for the symbolic sum of one euro to the Coptic Orthodox community, which has been operating in the church across the street since 1985. Restoration work began in September 2008. sixteen residential units for housing foreign students were created in the left wing of the building. The building also acquired rooms for Sunday school services, youth activities and meetings. On the second floor came a church space dedicated to Saint Abi-Sefein Mercury.

The late Pope Shenouda III opened the building on 26 October 2010. Since then, the Coptic Cultural Centre has been an important meeting place for the Coptic community, providing cultural, spiritual, educational and social care. It is a centre for learning about the Coptic heritage and civilisation of ancient Egypt, through gatherings and celebrations during Coptic and national events. The centre supports academic research in Coptic studies at the universities of Leiden and Groningen, and organises of conferences and lectures on the Coptic faith and its origins in Egypt. Many students visit the centre to conduct research and participate in prayers in Coptic. In addition, the centre encourages newcomers to integrate into Dutch society through language courses, training and education. The Coptic Cultural Centre thus contributes to enriching the cultural diversity of Amsterdam.