Nieuwe Kerk, Delft, Netherlands - SpottingHistory.com

The Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), formerly the church of St. Ursula (14th century), is the burial place of the princes of Orange. In 1584, William the Silent was entombed here in a mausoleum designed by Hendrick and Pieter de Keyser. Since then members of the House of Orange-Nassau have been entombed in the royal crypt. The latest are Queen Juliana and her husband Prince Bernhard in 2004. The private royal family crypt is not open to the public. The church tower is the second highest in the Netherlands, after the Domtoren in Utrecht.

The Nieuwe Kerk is remarkable for its fine tower and chime of bells, and contains the splendid allegorical monument of William the Silent, executed by Hendrik de Keyser and his son Pieter about 1621, and the tomb of Hugo Grotius, born in Delft in 1583, whose statue, erected in 1886, stands in the market-place outside the church. The tower was built 1396-1496 by Jacob van der Borch, who also built the Dom in Utrecht during the years 1444-1475. The monument for Hugo de Groot was made in 1781. The mechanical clock has 18 bells by Francois Hemony from 1659 and 30 modern bells. In the church tower there is a bell from 1662 made by Francois Hemony.

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User Reviews

Rene Janssen (2 years ago)
Siteseeing Delft, the challenge is to climbing up the church-tower, and the rewards to have a amazing view over the city centre Delft. Stunning views, challenging steps to climb up.....have fun to discover Delft❤

Thomas Karanikas (2 years ago)
A wonderful place not yet visited from the inside

Manuel K (2 years ago)
Ask for English translation if you go for Dutch mass service. Very kind staff. They arrange ENglish bible & also with translator with headphone

George Skylark (2 years ago)
Amazing view at the Delft, Hague and everything that the weather let you see. 8euros to see both tower and church. I was amazed how much items has still remained here untouched.

Ashley Wilkinson (3 years ago)
Beautiful church that is also the resting place of the Dutch royal family (including Willem of Orange!) I would highly recommend climbing the tower at least once. Fair warning: It's a LOT of stairs, and it's also very narrow in places, with people going both up and down. But the view at the top is absolutely fantastic!!!

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