Nieuwe Kerk Oranje route
The church was built between 1383 and 1510. The late-gothic cross basilica was dedicated to the holy virgin Mary, but was already given Saint Ursula as its second patron saint during construction.
It was a very richly decorated church. In 1566, much was lost in the iconoclasm. At the Reformation of 1572, the until then Catholic church passed to the 'Reformed'. The church can be visited from Monday to Saturday.
The tower of the Nieuwe Kerk, built between 1396 and 1496, is the second highest church in the Netherlands at 108.75 metres. Only the Dom tower in Utrecht is higher at 112 metres.
Royal tombs
In the choir of the Nieuwe Kerk are the tombs of the royal family.
It was a very richly decorated church. In 1566, much was lost in the iconoclasm. At the Reformation of 1572, the until then Catholic church passed to the 'Reformed'. The church can be visited from Monday to Saturday.
The tower of the Nieuwe Kerk, built between 1396 and 1496, is the second highest church in the Netherlands at 108.75 metres. Only the Dom tower in Utrecht is higher at 112 metres.
Royal tombs
In the choir of the Nieuwe Kerk are the tombs of the Royal Family. William of Orange was the first to be interred here in 1584. The family tomb of the Nassaus was in the Great or Our Lady's Church in Breda. The Spaniards occupied Breda. It was therefore decided to interred William of Orange in the Nieuwe Kerk for a long time. First in a tomb in the choir on a catafalque. In 1612, Louise de Coligny, his fourth wife, urged the States General to erect a representative sculpture. The same year, architect and sculptor Hendrick de Keyser was commissioned to build a funerary monument.
Between the choir and the nave is a model of the burial vault that lists all the Oranges interred in the crypt. The crypt is closed with a large keystone. It is opened only when a member of the royal family is interred. The last members to be interred in the tomb are Prince Claus in 2002 and Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard in 2004.
Tomb
In 1612, Hendrick de Keyser was commissioned to create a mausoleum executed in marble exactly above the spot where William's remains are located. He was inspired by the French royal tombs, in particular those of Henry II and Catherine di Medici in the cathedral of St Denis near Paris. Indeed, the States General wanted a monument that would reflect the regal stature of William of Orange as the founder of the republic.
The monument contains very many symbolic elements, representing both the four foundations of William of Orange as founder of the republic, and the four foundations on which the republic was built. The monument therefore served as a national symbol of the republic.
At the corners are four female figures. These are personifications of values that were attributed to William as thoughts important to him. These are Freedom, Justice, Religion and Strength, bravery and courage.
The windows of the Nieuwe Kerk
Twice, the stained-glass windows were lost. The first time happened in the city fire in May 1536. When the Delft powder house exploded in October 1654, the windows were destroyed again.
In 1923, Queen Wilhelmina celebrated her 25th anniversary in office. The National Committee for the Restoration of the Choir in the Nieuwe Kerk ensured the implementation of the national gift: the restoration of the choir and the royal crypt. Following this, the Wilhelmina window was donated (in the south transept). Furthermore, a number of windows were dedicated to the House of Orange, especially behind the mausoleum. The other windows depict events from the Old and New Testament. In the north transept is the Hugo Grotius window. In 14 scenes, it depicts the life of Hugo de Groot.