NIEUWE
KERK, DELFT
The
Netherlands
Like
many
“new” structures in
the Netherlands,
the Nieuwe Kerk is nothing like new. It began life as the Church
of St. Ursula
in the 14th Century. The tower, constructed
between 1396 and
1496
was to plans by Jacob van der Borch – who was responsible for the
Dom
Tower
in
Utrecht – thus the
two tallest
church towers in
the Netherlands
(the Dom being the tallest).
In
1584
William the Silent –
William I the founder of the Dutch Royal House – was entombed at
the church in
a monument design by Hendrick and Pieter de Keyser – since that
date all
members of the House of Orange-Nassau have been entombed in the Royal
Crypt in
the Nieuwe Kerk. Because of its status as Royal burial place the Nieuwe
Kerk
grew and grew in size and importance. Another person of great
importance buried
here is Hugo Grotius who was born in Delft
in 1583 and whose statue stands in the Market Place outside.
The
Nieuwe Kerk dominates the
centre of Delft
and is a focal point for the large Markt Square.
Photo
- Andrew J. Müller
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Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions and
Andrew J. Müller,
Roy Barton
and Shaun Runham
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2018
