Old Church (Oude Kerk) | Delft

Information

Landmark: Old Church (Oude Kerk)
City: Delft
Country: Netherlands
Continent: Europe

Old Church (Oude Kerk), Delft, Netherlands, Europe

The Oude Kerk, known locally as "Oude Jan" (Old John), is a Gothic Protestant church located in the historic center of Delft. It is most recognized for its leaning brick tower, which overlooks the Oude Delft canal.

Visual Characteristics

The church is a brick-built hall church featuring a 75-meter-tall tower that leans approximately 1.98 meters from the vertical. The exterior is characterized by its heavy buttresses and a wooden-roofed nave. Inside, the church contains three large pipe organs, 27 stained glass windows-notably those by Joep Nicolas-and floor-to-ceiling commemorative gravestones carved from dark Belgian limestone and marble.

Location & Access Logistics

The building is located at Heilige Geestkerkhof 25, situated between the Oude Delft and Voorstraat canals. It is a 10-minute walk (approximately 850 meters) north of Delft Central Station. Visitors can take tram line 1 to the "Prinsenhof" stop, which is 200 meters from the entrance. The area is pedestrian-only; the nearest car parking is the Prinsenhof parking garage on Phoenixstraat.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Founded in 1246 as the St. Bartholomew’s Church, it is the oldest parish church in Delft. The current Gothic structure was developed between the 13th and 15th centuries. The tower’s lean began during its construction in 1325 because it was built on a filled-in canal, causing the foundation to sink into the unstable peat and clay soil. To compensate, builders attempted to continue the upper sections vertically, resulting in a slight "kink" in the tower's silhouette.

Key Highlights & Activities

The church serves as the final resting place for several prominent Dutch historical figures, including the painter Johannes Vermeer and the naval heroes Maarten Tromp and Piet Hein. Visitors can explore the interior to view the intricate marble tomb of Tromp and the modern stained glass work. Regular organ concerts are performed on the 19th-century Christian Vater organ. Tower climbing is not permitted at this site due to structural preservation.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The church includes a small shop near the entrance selling guidebooks and postcards. Public restrooms are available for visitors. The interior maintains a stable, cool temperature due to its masonry, but it lacks central heating in most sections. High-speed 5G cellular signal is available throughout the site. Food and beverage options are located immediately across the canal on the Hippolytusbuurt.

Best Time to Visit

For photography of the leaning tower, the afternoon provides the best lighting from the west across the canal. The interior is most visually impressive during midday when sunlight passes through the 20th-century stained glass windows. The church is open to tourists from Monday to Saturday, usually from 10:00 to 17:00, and is closed to visitors on Sundays for church services.

Facts & Legends

The church houses the "Trinitas" bell, cast in 1570, which weighs nearly 9,000 kilograms and is only rung on rare occasions to prevent vibrations from further damaging the leaning tower. A local legend suggests that the tower will never fall because it "leans against the wind." A verified tip for visitors is that the grave of Johannes Vermeer is marked by a modest plaque in the northern transept, which was only added in 2007 to accommodate the high volume of pilgrims.