Grote Kerk, Gothic church in Leerdam, Netherlands
Grote Kerk is a Gothic church in Leerdam built with a three-nave structure and a pentagonal choir at its east end. The building combines a Romanesque tower from the 13th century with a 15th-century transept, showing how the structure grew across several centuries.
The church underwent major changes between 1862 and 1863 that altered its original form. A comprehensive restoration from 1957 to 1960 reversed these modifications and returned the building to how it appeared before the 19th-century changes.
The church displays a Ten Commandments board from 1696 featuring the coat of arms of Willem III, who held authority over Leerdam during his reign. This artwork reflects how the Dutch Reformed faith expressed itself through such visual devotions.
The building stands at Kerkstraat 32 in central Leerdam and is easy to reach on foot from the town center. It remains an active religious site for the Dutch Reformed congregation, so checking local hours or service times before your visit helps ensure you can view the interior.
During excavations in 1994, workers uncovered the foundation of an ancient baptistry on the western side of the building, which remains visible today. This discovery shows that a very early Christian structure once stood at this location long before the current church was built.
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