The Grote Kerk

The Grote Kerk (Great Church) is a historic church located in the city of Breda, Netherlands. It was built in the 13th century as a Roman Catholic church and has undergone several renovations and expansions over the centuries, with significant changes made in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The church is a Gothic-style building with a long nave and a large tower. The exterior of the church features a striking fa��ade with a pointed arch entrance and a prominent clock tower. Inside, the church has a vaulted ceiling, ornate stone carvings, and beautiful stained-glass windows.

Some notable features of the Grote Kerk include:

• a large organ built in 1714
• a clock tower standing over 100 meters tall
• several beautiful stained-glass windows depicting scenes from biblical stories and Dutch history
• a crypt beneath its nave, which contains graves and memorials to notable individuals

The Grote Kerk is still an active place of worship for the Protestant community in Breda. It also hosts various cultural events and concerts throughout the year. The church is a significant cultural and historical landmark in the Netherlands, offering visitors a glimpse into the country's rich architectural and artistic heritage.

About the Church

De Grote of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is het belangrijkste monument van Breda. Zij heeft bovendien een nationale betekenis. Een onderdeel van de kerk wordt gevormd door de Prinsenkapel, die het mausoleum is van de vroege voorvaderen van de Nederlandse koninklijke familie, het geslacht van Nassau-Dillenburg.

The church stands in the center of Breda at the Grote Markt. It is a cross-basilica in the style of Brabantine Gothic, which has been restored several times over the years.

Visiting Information

The church is h��t herkenningspunt (the landmark) of Breda. The tower of the church, standing 97 meters high and visible from afar, can be climbed on some days. At the top, there is a view over the Grote Markt and the city. The church building can be visited for free for at least eight months a year.

The church has been Protestant since 1637. There are still several times a year that a church service takes place. Additionally, baptisms, weddings, commemoration services, and funerals regularly take place there.

Recognition

1. The church is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands both due to its architecture and location.
2. As an example of Brabantine Gothic, it is in the Netherlands the most striking and elegant, although less well-known than the Sint-Janskathedraal in 's-Hertogenbosch.
3. The church stands on the Top 100 list of the Rijksdienst voor de Monumentenzorg (National Service for Monuments Care) from 1990.