Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Toren

The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwetoren, Our Lady's Tower, is the great bell tower of the Grote Kerk, also called the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, in Breda, and it is the symbol of the city. The tower rises to almost a hundred metres above the old centre, and it can be seen from far across the flat landscape of West Brabant. It is a fine example of Brabantine Gothic, the style that developed in the southern Netherlands and Belgium, and it is a national monument. The church beside it is among the most important late medieval buildings in the south of the country.

The church was built mainly in the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, and the tower belongs to the later phase. Breda was an important town under the Nassau family, who held the barony of Breda and made the city their base, and the church became the family's burial place. The Prinsenkapel, the Princes' Chapel, contains the tombs of members of the House of Orange-Nassau, and the most remarkable tomb in the church is that of Engelbrecht II of Nassau, a Renaissance monument of great quality made in the early sixteenth century and attributed to an Italian master. The link between Breda and the Dutch royal family goes back to William the Silent, whose family held the town.

Seen from the Grote Markt, the tower makes a powerful impression, with its soaring buttresses, its openwork stonework and the spire that tapers to a point. A tower like this was a statement of civic pride and wealth, and also served as a watchtower, from which the guards could see approaching armies or fires. Visitors may be able to climb it in season, and the view from the top covers Breda, the parks and the surrounding countryside, though opening arrangements vary and should be checked in advance. The interior of the church has a large organ, and concerts are held in the building.

Breda has plenty to see nearby. The Grote Markt is the main square with cafes and terraces, the Kasteel van Breda, the castle now used by the military academy, stands in a park, and the Prinsenhof, the Stadhuis and Sint-Antoniuskerk are other landmarks. Breda's Broek is a quiet old district, and the city hosts the Breda Jazz Festival, held in May. The town lies close to the Belgian border and is easily reached by train from Rotterdam and Antwerp.

The tower suits history lovers, architecture fans and those who like climbing for a view. Allow an hour for the church and tower, and combine them with a stroll around the old centre.