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

User Reviews

dna Eumaryu (5 months ago)
Nice building, live Christmas carols, perfect athmosfere for Christmas. Free entry. No tickets or reservation required during the Winterwelwaart weekend.

Traveler Developer (8 months ago)
Very nice building

Aylin Örs (10 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

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