Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Grote Kerk

The Grote Kerk (Great Church) of Hindeloopen must be very old, as it was already destroyed in 1570 during the Eighty Years' War. The church – dedicated to Saint Gertrude -was rebuilt around 1590. The church tower dates from this period and was completed in 1593. In 1632 this church was replaced by a larger building and twentysix years later it was extended southwards into a two-aisled hall church. The extension was demolished in 1892 due to dilapidation. The spire was lost in 1701 after a lightning strike during a service. In 1724, the current spire was placed on top of the tower. On top of the octagonal spire is a dome with a wind vane in the shape of a sailing ship. In 1685 bells were placed in the tower, which were made by the bell foundry of Petrus Overney in Leeuwarden. During World War II the bells were stolen. One of the bells was recovered after the liberation. The entrance portal on the south side was made in 1658 by Claes Lykles. In the pediment above the coat of arms of Hindeloopen and the year 1658. During the renovation of 1892, this entrance was moved to the south side of the church. The Grote Kerk is recognized as a national monument.

The Grote Kerk is a late-Gothic cross basilica, located in Naarden Vesting , one of the most beautiful fortresses in the Netherlands. Prior to the Protestant Reformation it was named St. Vitus Kerk . The tower with an eight-sided spire - 73 meters high - is the oldest part of the church and a remnant of a predecessor of the current church, which was built between 1380 and 1440. The present cross basilica with ambulatory and strikingly low transepts was the result of an extension between 1455 and 1518. In this period the church was destroyed by fire in 1468 and 1481. The side aisles have stone vaults, but the central nave is covered by an oak barrel vault, which was painted between 1510 and 1518 with scenes from the Old and New Testament. The oak choir fence from 1531 with rich renaissance carving also dates from the time before the Reformation. The church is managed by a foundation ( Stichting Grote Kerk Naarden ) and is still used for services of the Protestant Community of Naarden. In addition, events and concerts are held there. The church is very well known known for the annual performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion by the Netherlands Bach Society on Good Friday.

The construction of the Grote Kerk or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady) started in 1410 and was completed around 1540. The church - covered with natural stone - is built in the Brabantine Gothic style. This is reflected in the gables, high windows and a large number of flying buttresses, as well as many details and decorations. The tower has a height of 97 metres and is one of the finest and richly decorated church towers in the Netherlands. Work on the tower started in 1468 and was finished 38 years later. In the past the church was far more furnished than today. Much was destroyed during the Iconoclastic Fury in 1566 and the occupation of the church by the Protestants. During the Eighty Years' War (1568 - 1648) the church changed various times between protestant and catholic use, to become finally protestant in 1637. The most important chapel in the church is the Prinsenkapel (PiP 2). This Prince Chapel is the old mausoleum of the House of Orange-Nassau. The chapel was built from 1520 until 1525 on orders of the Lord of Breda, Hendrik III van Nassau-Breda . Seventeen family members are buried in the chapel. The church building is free to visit and is nowadays mainly used for concerts, courses, symposia, fairs, fashion shows, school excursions and exhibitions. Nowadays there are about ten church services a year and also regular baptisms, weddings, memorial services and funerals. But the huge building is mainly used for concerts, courses, symposia, fairs, fashion shows, school excursions and exhibitions.

The Grote Kerk (Big Church) or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe-Kerk (Our Dear Lady Church) was built between 1285 and 1470 in Brabantine Gothic style. This Protestant church is the largest and the second oldest church in the city. The dome-vault of the Big Church is the only one in the Netherlands fully made of stone. The impressive interior is well known for its choir stalls, chapels, pulpit and several other monuments. The tower of the church has a height of 65 meters and is never finished. Dordrecht's position in between rivers made the ground very wet and spongy and unable to support such a heavy structure. The tower started leaning over two meters, which is still visible. The tower is topped with four pointer clocks and a carillon with 67 bells, with its 52.000 kilos it is one of the largest in Europe.

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.