Sint Hippolytuskerk, Middelstum, Medieval church in Middelstum, Netherlands.
The Sint Hippolytuskerk is a Gothic cross church with a three-sectioned tower and a seventeenth-century lantern dome topping its structure. The building houses a functioning carillon of thirty bells, with twenty-three original pieces crafted by François Hemony in 1662 and seven additions from 1949.
Construction of this church began in 1445 under the commission of Onno van Ewsum, who initiated the project after returning from his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This founding shaped the place's further history and made it a central landmark of the region.
The interior features vault paintings with religious scenes, including representations from Albrecht Dürer's Little Passion series beneath its arches. These artworks shape how the church space feels today and show the artistic choices made in earlier centuries.
The church is easy to reach on foot, and visitors can admire the building from outside and explore its architecture. Inside, guests should remain quiet and be aware of other visitors, especially when the space is being used for services or events.
Beneath the choir lies a crypt holding the remains of the Van Ewsum family, the direct founders of this place. This hidden vault connects the family's story directly to the building's origins and is often overlooked by visitors.
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