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Grote of St. Catharinakerk

Nijkerk, NL

There has probably been a church in Nijkerk since the beginning of the 13th century, on the site of the current Grote Kerk. The church that was built then was called 'Nije Kerck'; the origin of the name Nijkerk. In 1421 this church was destroyed. The construction of a new church began in 1461. The building was badly damaged in a city fire in 1540. After this fire the church was rebuilt. A memorial plaque still hangs in the Grote Kerk in memory of this city fire. It is not clear whether the church was rebuilt with the same shapes. It is assumed that the choir is older than the rest of the church. The base of the tower is also older. The church has 1,070 seats. In the skylight above the main entrance you can see the garlands of tobacco leaves, which were placed for decoration in various places in the church, such as on the pulpit. This was done when Nijkerk was an important city for tobacco cultivation. Above the main entrance, a memorial stone is built into the wall, commemorating that the tower was rebuilt in 1776. t Ampt Nijkerk Dese Toren 1776 Herbouwt, it says. The church is still in use as a place of worship. The Beeldenstorm in 1566 passed Nijkerk by. In 1594, the Catholic church officially became Protestant. The Reformed Church of Nijkerk belongs to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. This church is a typical Dutch Protestant church building. There are hardly any decorations to be found. Only a few things remind us of the time before the Reformation, namely the four symbols of the evangelists (Matthew: angel, Mark: lion, Luke: bull and John: eagle) as corbels at the bottom of the colonettes where the cross ribs end. In addition, on two of the three keystones in the choir, at the top where the cross ribs meet, there are images of Christ and of Saint Catherine, to whom the church was dedicated. (Source: [ [1] ]Wikipedia).

Grote of St. Gertrudiskerk

Bergen op Zoom, NL

Architecturally and historically extremely important large historical church, with a tower called "De Peperbus". Over the centuries this grandly designed, but always unfinished, church has been hit by various disasters. As a result, this church was at a certain point, until mid-1966, reduced to the transept for ecclesiastical use as a Reformed "Grote Kerk", in which, in addition to church services, there was also room for a bicycle shed for churchgoers (experienced myself in 1964, JvN). The choir and nave were then separated from the transept by wooden partitions.

Grote of St. Gudulakerk

Lochem, NL

Large historic city church with high tower. The Grote or Sint-Gudulakerk is a Protestant church in the Dutch town of Lochem. The church is located on Kerkstraat, in the centre of the city. The church was built in the 12th century as a Roman Catholic church. The church is named after Saint Gudule ( Goedele_van_Brussel ), a saint from the 7th century. The church is a hall church with a choir and a west tower. The church is built of brick and has a Gothic style. The church has a number of special works of art, including an organ from the 18th century, a pulpit from the 17th century and a baptismal font from the 16th century.

Grote of St. Janskerk

Linschoten, NL

The current church dates from the 13th century, when the chapel was rebuilt or expanded and a tower was added to the west. The upper part of the church tower was not built until the 15th century. In 1482, the church was partially destroyed by fire, because during the time of the Hoekse and Kabeljauwse disputes, citizens of Montfoort had entrenched themselves there, who were literally smoked out by the opponents. Due to a lack of money, the church was only temporarily repaired.

Grote of St. Janskerk

Gouda, NL

At 123 metres, the Sint Janskerk is the longest church in the Netherlands. Little is known about the oldest building history, which began around 1280. The church has a relatively small tower with a carillon, the bells of which largely originate from the famous seventeenth-century bell foundry of the Hemony brothers. The current church building, in the form of a cruciform basilica, largely dates from before the fire of 1552. Until the Reformation of 1572, it was used as a Roman Catholic church, which can still be seen in the layout. Spread over the nave and the side aisles were at least 45 altars, belonging to the Gouda guilds and/or dedicated to saints. The choir section, separated by a monumental marble choir screen with copper bars from 1782, was only accessible to the clergy; mass was celebrated here at the main altar.

Grote of St. Janskerk

Montfoort, NL

Reformed Church. Large cruciform late Gothic pseudo-basilica with slender tower, crowned by a spire. In 1400 elevated to Roman Catholic chapter church, although due to lack of funds a chapter was never established. After damage during the "Hoekse en Kabeljouwse disputes" restoration and expansion of the existing church was started in 1490, resulting in the current shape and size. Church rebuilt after fire in 1639 caused by lightning. Reconstruction completed in 1639, which could be paid for by the sale of church lands. Pulpit from 1670, baptismal fence from 1675, both equipped with copper lecterns from 1725, lords' pews from the 17th century, various old and decorated gravestones. The painted Ten Commandments board comes from the church of Linschoten, where it could not be retained as part of a restoration there. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

Grote of St. Nicolaaskerk

Monnickendam, NL

Great or St. Nicholas Church. Very large triangular HALL CHURCH, 15-16-17th century, with late Gothic west tower, 16th century. On the north side two late Gothic portal extensions and in between a building with a Renaissance facade from 1620. Gravestone floor. Altar stone at the southern entrance. Choir screen with rich carvings, 16th century, 1563 and later. Baptismal font, 15th century. Pulpit from 1695, with sounding board crowning in Louis XVI style, originating from the Protestant church of Winschoten. Two copper lecterns and copper baptismal arch, 17th century. Seven lords' pews and church pews, 17th century. Epitaph for Jan Nieuwenhuyzen, 1807. Nine copper chandeliers, 17th century. Bell tower with bell by Everhardus Splinter, 1641, diam. 171.2 cm. In the roof turret clock by Petit and Fritsen, 1871, diam. 42.4 cm.This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

Grote of St. Nicolaaskerk

IJsselstein, NL

The reformed church, founded around 1309 and then dedicated to St. Nicholas, elevated to the status of chapter church around 1397, is a three-aisled cruciform church with choir, ambulatory, sacristy, south portal and west tower. After the fire of 1911, the church was restored under the direction of the architect JFL Frowein. Interior: in the choir are two tomb monuments: le Tomb (14th century) with 4 recumbent statues of black marble, representing Gijsbrecht van IJsselstein, his son Arnold and their two wives. This monument was last restored by the sculptor EF Georges (1857-1858); 2nd Tomb (16th century) of black marble with a recumbent statue of sandstone, representing Aleid van Culemborg, died 1471. In the choir we find numerous tombstones incorporated into the floor. In the sacristy on the north wall a painted plan of the church in frame indicating "the tombers, cellars and graves" (P. Lukias f; anno MDCCXXXV). On the east wall a painted wooden board in frame, on which the names of the ministers are written in gold letters. The church has four silver communion cups, a silver baptismal font, two silver jugs, four beautiful copper crowns, XVIIc. At the pulpit and the place of the reader copper lecterns (1775-1800). The tower was built between 1530 and 1540 and does not stand in the axis of the church. Architect Allessandro Pasqualini. The tower has been restored according to plans by the architect M. de Klerk by the architect HAJ Baanders. The sculptures are by Hildo Krop. Bell frame with clock by AH van Bergen, 1931, diam. 113 cm. A stone sundial is incorporated into the left pillar of the church tower base.

Grote of St. Stevenskerk

Nijmegen, NL

Historical city church with a 71 metre-high tower. Long-term restoration of tower and church, after heavy war damage in 1944. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

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