Great Church

Naarden, Netherlands

The Great Church (Grote Kerk) dates from the 15th century. Prior to the Protestant Reformation it was named for St. Vitus. It survived the Spanish invasion of 1572 and the subsequent burning of the town. The church has numerous wooden vaults that are painted with scenes from the Old and New Testaments. These were hidden for many years and were only rediscovered in a recent restoration. The church is the venue for a number of cultural activities such as organ music nights and the bi-annual Naarden Photo festival.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 15th century
Category: Religious sites in Netherlands

More Information

www.grotekerknaarden.nl

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Dr. Akbar Zubairi (13 months ago)
Nice old church building in the centre of the town.
Andreas VanderSchaaf (18 months ago)
It's rather unique experience to visit The 'Grand Church in Naarden Vesting. The ancient history of the Netherlands and specifically the province of North Holland can be seen in and around this landmark church dating back to the times when Charles V reigned this land. Many events, socially, historically and musically take places here the whole year around including the 'Mattäus Passion'.
Jim Allison (19 months ago)
A wonderful place to experience Matthew Passion each Easter season. A pleasant 30 minute walk from the train station, with excellent restaurants in the center of Naarden.
Jana Schnaubeltová (22 months ago)
Nice church, playground behind and Commenius statue on the side. In the historical center of Naarden. We hope to return here soon.
Argha Nandy (2 years ago)
This is very well maintained church in Naarden. The architecture is simply magnificent. The structure is huge and has an imposing presence on the square. At the church entrance you also get pamplets in various languages at free of cost. These pamplets contains the detailed description of the objects and artefacts that are kept there. There is no entry fee and can be accessed by anyone. The church has been well maintained and preserved. The medieval irgans are definitely one of the main attractions. Definitely one can visit this place after a trip of the vesting museum.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Jan Hus Memorial

The Jan Hus Memorial stands at one end of Old Town Square. The huge monument depicts victorious Hussite warriors and Protestants who were forced into exile 200 years after Hus, and a young mother who symbolises national rebirth. The monument was so large that the sculptor designed and built his own villa and studio where the work could be carried out. It was unveiled in 1915 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Jan Hus' martyrdom. The memorial was designed by Ladislav Šaloun and paid for solely by public donations.

Born in 1369, Hus became an influential religious thinker, philosopher, and reformer in Prague. He was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the sixteenth century. In his works he criticized religious moral decay of the Catholic Church. Accordingly, the Czech patriot Hus believed that mass should be given in the vernacular, or local language, rather than in Latin. He was inspired by the teachings of John Wycliffe.