Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: oude stad

The Sint Catharijnekerk (also called Grote Kerk) was intended to become the largest church in the Holland region, but was never completed. The construction began in 1417, but in 1456 there was a major fire and twenty five years later they ran out of money and the construction of the church stopped; only the nave and tower were completed. Originally it was a roman catholic church, but in the year of 1572 the parish became in Protestant hands. Despite its use by the protestants, the church is often called by its catholic name Sint Catherijnekerk (St. Catharine Church). The Sint Catharijnekerk has quite a relationship with the House of Orange-Nassau. In the year of 1575 Willem van Oranje (William of Orange) married with Charlotte de Bourbon. And in 1688 Mary Stuart waved her husband Stadtholder William III goodbye from the tower, when he left for England to be crowned. Brielle still can be recognized from far away by the 57 meter high, truncated tower of the Sint-Catharijnekerk. In the older days - when Brielle was a major seaport - the tower also was used as a lighthouse.

The spire, called Westertoren, of the Westerkerk (Western Church) on the bank of the Prinsengracht is the highest church tower in Amsterdam with its 85 meters. The church, designed by the famous Dutch architect Hendrick de Keyser, was built between 1620 and 1631 in the Dutch Renaissance style. Older churches in Amsterdam were originally built by Roman Catholics and were converted to Protestantism during the Reformation in 1578. The Westerkerk was one of the first purposely built Protestant churches. Today the Westerkerk is the largest church in the Netherlands that was built for Protestants. Rembrandt van Rijn is buried in the Westerkerk, as are several other famous Dutch artists. Anne Frank was soothed by the chimes of the church’s clock tower while in hiding and mentioned it several times in her famous diary. Former Queen Beatrix was also married there back in 1966.

The Domkerk (St. Martin's Cathedral) was the cathedral of the diocese of Utrecht during the Middle Ages. It once was the largest church and the only cathedral of the Netherlands. The construction of the present church started already in 1254. Since 1580 it is a protestant church. In 1674 a tornado destroyed the part of the church that was connected to the tower and was never rebuild. The Dom tower is with a height of more than 112 meters the highest medieval tower in the country. Picture: Dom Church and Dom Tower seen from the cloister (Pandhof) next to the church.

The present Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) was built between 1835 and 1848. Nowadays the building is used for (music) performances and expositions.

Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (Our Lady Church) dating back to the 13th century, when it was founded as a catholic church. In the year of 1577 it was confiscated by the protestants and remained a reformed church till nowadays. Photo: interior of the church with the former choir.

Many streets in Santa Pau do have arcades.

Arcades along the Plaça Major, once known as the Firal dels Bous (oxen fairground), as it was used as marketplace and fairground.