Grote Kerk, Gothic church in Haarlem, Netherlands.
Grote Kerk is a Gothic house of worship in central Haarlem, with pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, and a timber roof resting on masonry built from mountain stone and brick. The building can accommodate more than a thousand people and stands out for its tall interior and use of traditional materials.
Construction of this church began in 1400 after an earlier building was lost to fire in the preceding centuries. Over the following years, the structure underwent expansions and modifications that shaped its present form.
The interior displays carved choir seating from the early 16th century and a wooden pulpit crafted over three centuries ago from oak. Churchgoers and visitors can still see the coloured glass windows today, which depict biblical stories and accounts from the region.
The church opens its doors to visitors who can enter during religious services, concerts, and guided tours. Accessibility is good for most people, and the building is easy to reach on a walk through central Haarlem.
A large instrument built by an organ maker named Christiaan Müller in the mid-18th century stands inside and is still used for concerts today. Not far from it, a memorial marks the final resting place of painter Frans Hals.
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