Nederland - Delft, Oude Kerk

The Oude Kerk (Old Church) - the oldest parish church and oldest building in Delft - was officially founded in 1246 (the same year in which Delft received city rights by count Willem II), even though it is generally assumed that there had been a wooden church on this site as early as 1050.This church was originally known as Sint Bartholomeuskerk. In the middle of the 13th century, the earlier building had been rebuilt and extended by “Bartholomeus van der Marde”.

The gothic tower, with its brick spire and four angle towers, was added between 1325 and 1350. Throughout the ages, the leaning tower, probably built on an early filled-up canal, has been the cause of considerable alarm to many inhabitants. In 1843, the City Council of Delft, fearing the collapse of the tower, decided that it had to be pulled down to the level of the church roof. Local contractors were able to prevent this decision from actually being carried out. Nowadays, the leaning tower of the Oude Kerk is a prominent landmark of Delft, fondly called by the citizens the Scheve Jan (Leaning Jan).

The precious interior including the elaborately crafted stained-glass windows had been completely destroyed by the iconoclasts of 1566 and 1572. Only the beautifully carved pulpit from 1548 has survived.

Approximately 400 people are entombed in the Oude Kerk; among them a lot of wellknown Dutch historical figures, like the painter Johannes Vermeer, naval heroes Piet Hein and Maarten Tromp and scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek (PiP5).