Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Naarden

Naarden is already officially mentioned in documents from around 900. Naarden was granted its city rights in 1300. Around 1350 the city was destroyed. Because at its original location it also suffered from the nuisance of the former Zuiderzee, it was decided to rebuild the city a few kilometers away on a sand ridge between Naardermeer and Zuiderzee. Naarden was then also given ramparts and walls to protect the residents against enemy troops. Nevertheless, in 1572 the city suffered a terrible massacre by the Spaniards during the Eighty Years' War. The citizens, who escaped this, brought new life into the city. Proof of this was the beautiful town hall from 1601, which was built in the Dutch Renaissance style with a double stepped gable; an architectural style dating from the Golden Age, when the Netherlands was the economic and political center of the world. Nowadays the city hall of Naarden - a Dutch state monument - is used for city meetings, weddings and cultural activities. During our visit in August we were able to visit some of the rooms inside the building. The interior of the ground floor is still exactly as it was at the beginning of the 17th century.

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.

Naarden is already officially mentioned in documents from around 900. Naarden was granted its city rights in 1300. Around 1350 the city was destroyed. Because at its original location it also suffered from the nuisance of the former Zuiderzee, it was decided to rebuild the city a few kilometers away on a sand ridge between Naardermeer and Zuiderzee. Naarden was then also given ramparts and walls to protect the residents against enemy troops. Nevertheless, in 1572 the city suffered a terrible massacre by the Spaniards during the Eighty Years' War. The citizens, who escaped this, brought new life into the city. Proof of this was the beautiful town hall from 1601, which was built in the Dutch Renaissance style with a double stepped gable; an architectural style dating from the Golden Age, when the Netherlands was the economic and political center of the world. The tympanum above the entrance contains, besides the statues, the city coat of arms of Naarden also the motto of faith (PiP3): Godt regiert al anno 1601 (God rules since 1601). Nowadays the city hall of Naarden - a Dutch state monument - is used for city meetings, weddings and cultural activities.

The history of Naarden goes back to the 10th century. In that time the town was not situated on its current location. After destruction the town was rebuild in 1350 on its current position on a high sand ridge that formed the only access to Amsterdam out of the east. Due to this strategic position, Naarden developed into one of the most important fortified towns in the Netherlands in the upcoming centuries. A fortified town differed from medieval cities with walls and solitaire forts; fortified towns combined the civil and military function and were situated on important strategic positions. For Naarden this function was the defence of Amsterdam, the country’s capital and economic centre. The current unique star shape of Naarden with double stone ramparts and moats dates back to the 17th century, when the fortifications were reinforced and updated to modern standards after the siege of 1673 by the French. Most of the fortifications that exist today date from this period. During the 19th century the fortifications were updated, resulting in the construction of many new bomb shelters and other army-related buildings like barracks. After the World War I the need for Naarden as a fortress was over. The army left and the city with its fortifications was turned into a monument and preserved just in time to prevent it from being demolished. The beautiful fortifications and the many military buildings are the silent witnesses of that glorious period and a perfectly preserved piece of Dutch defensive history.