Kerk, Grote Markt 10

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Dutch Reformed or St. Gertrude's Church, originally large-scale, entirely vaulted and clad with natural stone cruciform basilica, belonging to Brabantine Gothic. At the rebuilding of 1752, following the severe bombardment of 1747, the old ground plan remained virtually unchanged: a three-aisle nave with side chapels, transept, choir with ambulatory and side chapels along the straight sides, on either side of the closure the aisles of a second transept, at the west a built-in tower. In place of the high light nave of nave, transept and choir, Dirk Dijkerhof built a lower wooden barrel vault construction, in the nave crossed by transverse barrel vaults between transept-like side gables of brick. The side chapels retained all their vaulting. The oldest part is the tower base clad with Gobertanger stone, which dates from circa 1350 and after 1752 was crowned with a wooden, lead-clad, octagonal dome and was restored in 1952. The choir was begun in 1443 (in 1428 the church was elevated to collegiate status) after the design of master Everaert Spoorwater; the triforium was opened in 1752 to serve as a window series. In the course of the 15th century the construction of the nave followed, after the death of Spoorwater under the direction of Anthonis Keldermans. In 1504, after his design, a mighty expansion began: against the choir closure a second transept with aisles and a choir were erected, a work that remained unfinished and was demolished in 1700 except for the vaulted western transept aisle; in that place thus arose an enlargement of the Vrijthof, which was given the name Parade and was planted with trees. Inventory: Carved oak pulpit with brass lectern (18th century) and sounding board from 1805, by Louis del Haye from Antwerp, who had already supplied the organ with gallery in 1770-71, decorated with rococo motifs. A large number of rich monuments to the dead, severely damaged by the bombardment of 1747: tomb with kneeling figures of Adriaan van Reymerswaele (died 1534) and Johanna de Glymes (died 1532) with elegant Renaissance ornament; similar tomb for Jeronimus van Tuyll van Serooskerken (died 1571) and Eleonora Micault (died 1539); coloured marble monument with overarching canopy borne by columns beneath which the kneeling figures of governor Willem van der Reydt Broeckem and Judith van Aeswijn, erected in 1625; monument to the dead in the same manner for governor Louis de La Kethulle (died 1631); monument of black and white marble with the recumbent effigy of governor Charles Morgan (died 1642) and above it in a niche the figures of his daughter Anna and granddaughter Elisabeth, probably work of Francesco Dieussart. Wooden monument for Johan Jacob van Volbergen (died 1778) with Louis XVI carving. Two memorial plaques for the English officers fallen for the city in 1814, one of marble, the other of touch stone. Epitaph of touch stone (1552) with three coats of arms: fragment of a sandstone epitaph (16th century, second half). Some thirty richly decorated monuments to the dead, from the 15th-18th centuries in the choir. Three brass chandelier crowns of two rows of arms, according to inscription cast by Joh. Specht, Rotterdam 1753, and one of three rows (18th century) with shield-shaped decorations. During a fire in 1972 the church was severely damaged and part of the inventory was lost. In 1987-1988 various components from the church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary were transferred to the Gertrude Church. During the restoration following the fire the nave was partially rebuilt in simplified form. Organ by Richard Ibach from 1864, substantially rebuilt in 1915 and 1965-1972. From 1864 were preserved: the organ case and front pipes, the internal structure, parts of the wind supply, an organ bench and parts of the pipe work. The components added during the rebuilding fall outside the protection. Single-manual organ, circa 1740 made and purchased from Mol (Belgium). Iron gate at the Markt with sandstone posts. Mechanical tower clock and music box, B. Eijsbouts, 1938, electric winding. Organ, made by C.J. Rogier in 1857, with one manual, attached pedal and nine registers. In 1939 placed in the new church building of the Lutheran congregation and in 1980 restored by the firm A. de Graaf at Leusden. In 2010 transferred under management to the Foundation National Church Music Centre and placed in the Great or Gertrude's Church also at Bergen op Zoom. The instrument remains the property of the Lutheran congregation.