Mariakerk, Medieval church building in Deventer, Netherlands.
The Mariakerk is a medieval church building in Deventer that extends westward from the northern aisle of the Lebuinuskerk. The structure features a rectangular plan with a saddle roof and now consists of the southern aisle, a roofless nave functioning as an open courtyard, and a passage to the neighboring church opened in 1994.
The building was constructed around 1300 as part of a larger church complex with the Lebuinuskerk and served the prosperous townspeople as a prayer house. After the Reformation in 1578, Calvinists took control and the building lost its religious function.
The church takes its name from the Virgin Mary and reflects its medieval role as a prayer space for Deventer's townspeople. Today visitors can explore the partly preserved structures and open courtyard, which show how the space transformed over the centuries.
The building is located at Nieuwe Markt 35 in central Deventer and now functions as an event venue that can hold up to 400 people. Visitors should note that it is an active events space, so opening times should be checked in advance.
Next to the church stood the Maagdenhuisjes, small houses built in the early 16th century that provided shelter for single women and widows. These homes show how the site served a social purpose beyond its religious role in the medieval community.
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