Thursday, July 20, 2006

Nieuwe Kerk - In January 1351 a beggar, an eccentric by repute, fell to his knees on the market square in Delft. His name was Brother Simon. According to the Beschrijvinge der Stadt Delft (Description of the Town of Delft) dating from 1667, a certain Jan Col brought him some food. He was addressed by Simon with the words. "My dearly beloved friend, dost thou not see the Heavens open?" Both looked towards the sky and, according to tradition, saw a golden church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The beggar died soon after, but for the next thirty years on the same day in January, Jan Col continued to see a brilliant light shining on the spot indicated by Brother Simon. It was not until [a church] was actually built and consecrated that the annual vision of Jan Col disappeared.

The design of the late Gothic cruciform basilica on the Markt on which building started in 1396, was in accordance with strict rules dictated by symbolism. The cruciform shape represents Christ, the 12 pillars in the chancel symbolize the twelve apostles, the 4 central columns represent the four evangelists and the sixteen pillars in the nave symbolize the sixteen prophets. The church was literally constructed around the temporary wooden church. The brick basilica was constructed in three phases. On 6th of September 1496, exactly one hundred years after building commenced the tower was finally ready.

Construction of the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk was an amazing feat. Every brick, every trowel of cement had to be taken up by hand or on pulleys. The sub-soil consisted of marshy reed-land. The iconoclasm of 1566 also left its mark on the Nieuwe Kerk. A damaged statue, on a level with the first pillar in the south aisle, is all that remains of the original Roman Catholic furnishing of the church. In 1572 the building was taken over by the Reformed Church.
The window of the Barony of Breda from the 1930s
Mausoleum of Prince William of Orange (1533-1584) - built from 1614-1623
The Nave with 1839 Organ with 3000 pipes and 48 stops
Chancel columns and stained glass windows - all from 1923 to 1936
Prince William window from 1930s
Smiley Miley

posted by Whitney @ 7:46 AM

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