Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (English: ''Great, or St. Lawrence church'') is a landmark formerly

Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

church in Alkmaar,

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, now in secular use. The building is located on the Koorstraat (choir street). It is mostly closed in the winter and open for tourists in the summer months or by appointment.

History

The Grote Kerk (1470–1498), dedicated to

St Lawrence Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...

, is a handsome building and contains the tomb of

Floris V, Count of Holland Floris V (24 June 1254 – 27 June 1296) reigned as Count of Holland and Zeeland from 1256 until 1296. His life was documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler. He is credited with a mostly peaceful reign, moderni ...

(d. 1296), a brass of 1546, and some paintings (1507).

Anna Visscher Anna Roemers Visscher (c. 2 February 1583 – 6 December 1651) was a Dutch people, Dutch artist, poet, and translation, translator. Biography Anna Roemers Visscher was the eldest daughter of Amsterdam merchant and poet Roemer Visscher and the s ...

is buried in this church. The church was designed by Anthonius Keldermans (c. 1440–1512), from a church building family from Mechelen.website "Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar" - Historie

Organs

The two organs are world-famous. The smaller one, called the "Koororgel" (choir organ), was built in 1511 by Jan van Covelens, and is built against the north wall of the church. It is the oldest playable organ in the Netherlands. The larger organ at the west end of the church is one of the most famous, significant and beautiful organs in the world. It was built by Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer, finished in 1645. The magnificent casework, which unusually stretches from floor to vault and makes the organ part of the architecture of the church, was designed by

Jacob van Campen Jacob van Campen (2 February 1596 - 13 September 1657) was a Dutch artist and architect of the Golden Age. Life He was born into a wealthy family at Haarlem, and spent his youth in his home town. Being of noble birth and with time on his hand ...

, a leading architect of the time. The enormous canvas shutters were painted by Caesar van Everdingen. The organ was rebuilt in 1723 by

Frans Caspar Schnitger Frans is an Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish given name, sometimes as a short form of ''François''. One cognate of Frans in English is ''Francis''. Given name * Frans van Aarssens (1572–1641), Dutch diplomat ...

. He left the casework much as it was, but created an organ in the North German style within the old case. He reused much of the old fluework, but all the mixtures and reeds were new. The organ has not been changed much since then, and is rare in that 90 percent of the original material, pipework, action, soundboards, case, survives. As such it is one of the most important organs in the world. It is the subject of a documentary made in 2013 and released on DVD by Fugue State Films as "Alkmaar: The Organs of the Laurenskerk".

Carillon

Detail tijdens restauratie- de heelslagklok - Alkmaar - 20327157 - RCE

The hour bell ( bourdon) was made by Casparus and Johannes Moer in 1525, with a diameter or 130 cm. tone Cis1. ±1950 kg. The bell was given by the abbot of the monastery in Egmond near Alkmaar. The text on the bell: : ''Ick heet Saligmaeker. Als ick geluydt word bedrijf ick rou over de dooden. Door mijn clanck verdrijf ick de listen en plagen des Satans. Heer Meiard Man Abt tot Egmond heeft mij gegeven. Casparus en Johannes Moer fecerunt 1525''. Translation in English: (My name is Saviour. When I am rung I mourn over the departed. Through my sound I drive the wiles and pests of Satan away. I was given by Sir Meiard man abbot till Egmond. Casparus and Johannes Moer fecerunt (made me) 1525.) The carillon under the bourdon has 35 bells. The largest 16 by Melchior de Haze (1688/89) were made for this turret. 12 smaller bells from de

Waag A weighhouse or weighing house is a public building at or within which goods are weighed. Most of these buildings were built before 1800, prior to the establishment of international standards for weights, and were often a large and representative ...

(the weigh house) also cast by M. de Haze, and 7 modern bells by

Eijsbouts Royal Eijsbouts ( nl, Koninklijke Eijsbouts) is a bell foundry located in Asten, Netherlands. The workshop was founded in 1872 by Bonaventura Eijsbouts as a "factory for tower clocks." In 1893 Eijsbouts was joined by his 15-year-old son, Johan ...

. Rijksmonument report In 2014 the turret is undergoing restoration; the bell part is by Clock o Matic from Holsbeek Belgium.

Current function

The church is formally owned by the "Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar" (foundation for the preservation of heritage churches in Alkmaar), which conducts restoration activities and rents it out for weddings and concerts, but also facilitates various cultural initiatives of the city. The main part of the church is open to visitors at no charge. There is an admission charge to go into the upper levels and outer viewing areas. The church is currently home to the Alkmaar Altarpiece. A bar has been added into the southern transept.

References

External links

Website Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar
(Dutch only)
Website Vrienden van de Grote Sint Laurenskerk Alkmaar
(Dutch only)
Website about documentary about the Laurenskerk organclip from documentary about the Laurenskerk organ
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grote Of Sint-Laurenskerk (Alkmaar) Alkmaar

Bell towers in the Netherlands A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an intern ...

Carillons Churches in North Holland Protestant churches converted from Roman Catholicism Protestant churches in the Netherlands