Grote of Jacobijnerkerk

The Grote of Jacobijnerkerk is the largest medieval church in Leeuwarden, the capital of the province of Friesland. The name has two parts: Grote, meaning large, and Jacobijnerkerk, which refers to the Jacobins, the name by which the Dominican friars were known in the Low Countries. The church began as a Dominican foundation in the thirteenth century, and the construction dates usually quoted run from the late thirteenth to the early fourteenth century, making it a major example of Gothic building in the north of the Netherlands.

Like most Dutch medieval churches, it lost its Catholic furnishings after the Reformation, and many of its original altars and decorations disappeared over the centuries. What remains is a large, bright interior with high vaulting and tall windows, in which the scale of the building speaks for itself. The church is associated with the Nassau family, the stadtholders of Friesland, who used it as a burial place, and the tombs and memorials of the family are among the most important historical features of the interior. Their presence reflects the central role of Leeuwarden as the seat of the Frisian stadtholders.

Today the church is valued as much for its sound as for its history. Its acoustics are well regarded, and it is used for concerts, cultural events and exhibitions. Information panels and occasional guided tours explain the construction, the Dominican background and the history of the Nassau burials. Opening times vary, so they should be confirmed before visiting, and access may be restricted during events.

The church is a natural part of a walk through the city. Leeuwarden has a compact centre of canals, historic houses and shopping streets, and the leaning tower called the Oldehove is a short walk away. A route linking churches and former monasteries gives a sense of the religious history of the city, and the AquaZoo and the Fries Landbouwmuseum, the Frisian Agricultural Museum, offer further options for families. Leeuwarden was European Capital of Culture in 2018, and the city is proud of its role as a cultural centre. It was also the birthplace of Mata Hari and of the graphic artist M.C. Escher.

The church suits visitors interested in medieval architecture, the history of Friesland and quiet places for reflection. Allow half an hour to an hour, and combine it with a stroll along the city canals.