Nederland - Diever, Pancratiuskerk

The Brink is the traditional centre of the villages in the province of Drenthe. In Diever this green square offers the Sint-Pancratiuskerk, dedicated to St. Pancratius. Originally this Romanesque church was built in the 12th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries the church gradually got its gothic form.

As far as medieval churches in the province of Drenthe are concerned, the reformed church of Diever is very unusual. While in Drenthe one-aisled churches are the rule, this one has three-aisles, evidence that Diever was an important place in this region.

In 1759 lightning struck the tower and the vaults of the nave and southern side-aisle collapsed. After that disaster the church was largely renewed. Between 1955 and 1959 the church, which had been in a very bad state for some time, was restored and the situation that had existed before 1759 was reconstructed.

The Sint-Pancratiuskerk is considered being one of the most beautiful in Drenthe, this is also due to the authentic interior and the beautiful vaults in the church.