Elburg (G): Grote Kerk or St. Nicolaas part 1/2
In the
late 14th century, after several floodings and a hurricane, the town of
Elburg, a prospering member of the Hanseatic League, abandoned its
location at the Zuiderzee and was rebuilt a little more land inwards.
In only four years, from 1392 until 1396, an entirely new town was
built. A completely planned town, with a rectangular ground plan and
straight streets. However, Elburg''s church was still at the old
location, outside the walls of the new town. When in 1397 permission
was given by the bishop of Utrecht to build a new church, only a piece
of land in the north-east of the town was still empty. Thus the new
church was built at the edge of the town, not at its centre. This
church must have been built quite badly, because already in 1448 it
needed rebuilding. First the tower and the choir were renewed, then the
ship and, in the final stage, the transept and the sacristy. Work
wasn't completed until 1465.
The resulting church is a three-aisled pseudo-basilica in Gothic style,
with a choir which is lower than the nave. Originally the tower had a
spire on top, but it was lost when lightning struck in 1693 and never
replaced.
The church became protestant in 1580, but already in 1566 protestants
had vandalised the interior. The building was damaged several times
since, especially on the inside.
