Grote Kerk, Haarlem

In my short day trip to Haarlem, we went to see the big Organ at the Grote Kerk---really worth it--this church is amazing and not far from the train station.
Open in summer daily from 10-17 hrs with services on Sundays at 10 AM and 7PM.

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The tourist visiting the Grote Kerk St-Bavo is most often unaware that the interior of this church, as many other catholic churches in the Netherlands, was victim of the "Beeldstormers" or protestant iconoclasts.
This Catholic Church had been built over the 14 and 15th c. and she became the cathedral of the newly formed diocese of Haarlem in 1559. The deep choir (45 m, among the largest in Europe) was especially convenient for this function.

Already in 1566 the first attacks on this symbol of Catholicism were carried out. A large part of the typical catholic decoration was destroyed; the 32 altars, all statues (only the statue of St. Bavo at the front remains). Some altarpieces were saved and are kept at museums. Some wood carved artefacts were preserved.
The church was confiscated in 1578. The walls were chalked white to hide the frescos as usual with protestant churches taken over from the Catholics. St. Bavo has been a Protestant church ever since.

Strange enough the pared down interior of St-Bavo has been often painted by the 17th c. church interior painters. The famous Pieter Saenredam, who lived in Haarlem painted half a dozen interiors of St-Bavo, as did others like Job Berckheyde or Isaac van Nickelen.
I suppose that the sober interior did favour the perspective and light effects sought-after by these painters.

The most remarkable building in the city center. The church is huge! It has a very bright interior with some pieces of art here and there, some sailing ships for example. In the choir area you see a lantern on the floor - this marks the place where painter Frans Hals is buried.

The huge organ is really beautiful, built in the 18th century. During my visit some anonymous person played wonderful music, but some decades ago both W. A. Mozart and G. F. Händel played the organ in Haarlem!

Overall a nice church, impressive in its size. They charge a 2 Euro entrance fee which is too much in my opinion...

This is the largest church in Haarlem and is famous for its extremely ornate and functional organ. The organ was played by both Handel and Mozart. This church dominates the main square outside. The admission fee was very small, and the visit to this large church was well worth it.

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The dutch reformed Great Church or St. Bavo Church of Haarlem is build in late gothic style as a basilica in crossform. The exterior is very imposant but it's worthwhile to take a look inside as well.

The central nave and choir are covered with a beautiful wooden ceiling. Much of the furniture dates from before the reformation: a choir-screen, choir-stalls rnamented with family arms, and a brass pelican lectern.

The church also has a famous and richly ornamented organ.

Also pay attention to the very nice colored glass windows. Remarkable but scary fact: The floor is paved with gravestones so look down also when you are inside.

Open: Monday-Saturday 10.00pm till 16.00am. Closed at Sunday.

Entrance:
-Adults 1,50 euro
-Children 1,00 euro

-Guided tours: 2,00 euro p.p.

*If there are less than 12 persons who join the guided tour minimun costs are 25,00 euro.
*When: Saturday 2.15 p.m. and in summertime Saturday 11.00 a.m.
*Language: Tours in Dutch, German, English and Spanish.

-Municipal organ recitals: The duration of the Tuesday evening and Thursday afternoon recitals is approximately one hour, entrance is free.
*Tuesday 8.15 - 9.15 p.m.
*Thursday 3 - 4 p.m.

History

The dutch reformed Great Church or St. Bavo Church of Haarlem was restored 1980-1985. It is build in late gothic style as a basilica in crossform. The central nave and choir are covered with a beautiful wooden ceiling (16th century). Much of the furniture dates from before the Reformation: eg. a choir-screen (1509-1517), choir-stalls (1512), later ornamented with family arms, and a brass pelican lectern (1499) by Jan Fierens from Mechelen. The church also has a famous and richly ornamented organ build by Christian Müller (1738; in 1961 restaurated by the Danish organ manifacturers Marcussen). The organ front was made bij Jan van Logteren; the marmor works supporting it by Jan-Baptist Xavery.

Contiene algunos excelentes ejemplos de arte renacentista, pero lo que más destaca es el asombroso órgano Müller, uno de los más magníficos del mundo, con 30 metros de altura y 5000 tubos. Fue tocado por Handel y Mozart, cuando este último tenía diez años de edad.
La iglesia abre de 10 am a 4 pm de Lunes a Sábado.

A big Gothic church that can't be missed, even if you want to. But why would you not want to see this beauty? And do not forget to take a look inside, the wooden vaults are amazing!

Incidentally, many people think this is a cathedral. It's not. It's a protestant church now. It was a cathedral once, but only for a short period

The old Bavo church on the Grote Markt was built in Gothic style and is hundreds of years old. The tower is at this moment restaurated. From the top of the tower you can see the whole city.

Besides the St Bavo Church on the Grote Markt there is another Bavo Church in Haarlem at the Leidsevaart. You can find more about this church (it's huge) in my TRAVELLOGUE.

Go and visit the Bavo church at the 'Grote Markt'. You can go inside the bavo church and listen to the story about the midget and the giant that are burried in the church. You can also hear the orgel play and learn more about the history of this church.