Der Aa-kerk

Groningen, Netherlands

Originally there was a chapel situated on the site of the current Aa-kerk church. This chapel was devoted to Mary and to Saint Nicholas, the patron of the bargees who cast off the vessels at the Westerhaven.

In 1247, the chapel became the parish church and was named Onze Lieve Vrouwe ter Aa (Our Lady at the Aa) - Aa being the nearby river. Groningen had two centers at the time. One of them was around the chapel. Here lived the fishermen and the traders. Between 1425 and 1465, the chapel was changed into a brick church with a transept.

Images of the Siege of Groningen in 1672 show Der Aa-kerk without the top of the tower. After the war a new wooden tower top was built. On 23 April 1710, the tower spontaneously collapsed killing two people. In 1711, a new tower was built.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Akerkhof 2A, Groningen, Netherlands

See all sites in Groningen

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Religious sites in Netherlands

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Martinikerk (0,5 km)

Drents Museum (24,8 km)
Buitenpost Church (28 km)
Nicolaïkerk (22,8 km)
Nienoord (12,4 km)
Veenhuizen Colony (22,6 km)
St. Peter and Paul Church (17,8 km)
Fraeylemaborg (16,5 km)
Menkemaborg (22,5 km)
Verhildersum (19,7 km)

User Reviews

dna Eumaryu (3 months ago)
Nice building, live Christmas carols, perfect athmosfere for Christmas. Free entry. No tickets or reservation required during the Winterwelwaart weekend.

Traveler Developer (6 months ago)
Very nice building

Aylin Örs (8 months ago)
A nice church, would like to see an event in. It's impressive to see the small exhibition inside, connecting people, time, art...

Alexandr Goguskin (2 years ago)
Outstanding place, wonderful show at museum night, inside it breathtaking

Julia M (2 years ago)
Akerk is like a time machine. Modern art and a special spirit are united here. Perhaps the secret is in the beautiful organ music that sounds inside... perhaps

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright caminanteK

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.