Broederkerk, Kampen, Medieval church in Kampen, Netherlands.
Broederkerk is a church featuring two parallel naves with a pentagonal choir and an octagonal stair tower positioned between the choir aisles. Inside, cross-ribbed vaults spring from slender columns, creating an airy sense of height.
Franciscan monks built this church in the 14th century as part of their monastic complex. A fire in 1472 damaged it, but reconstruction reused the existing walls, preserving its original form.
The transition from Catholic to Protestant use in 1581 left a visible mark: a separation wall divides the nave from the choir, a reminder of how faith reshaped the space and the community's relationship with it.
The church opens to visitors on Saturdays from 14:00 to 17:00, making weekend visits the best option. Take time to walk through the space and observe how the architectural elements and wall placement guide your movement.
The north choir contains the Lemker Hall, a former monastery library space marked by floor tombstones from the 16th century and later. These graves in the floor mark the resting places of people connected to monastic life here.
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