The genesis
The origins of Delft's oldest church go back to the dark beginning of the Middle Ages. Around 1050, the settlement along the 'Delf' probably already had a small tufa church measuring about twelve by thirty metres.
City rights
Around 1240, civil servant Bartholomeus van der Made took the initiative to expand the small church with two aisles and a choir.
When Count Willem II granted the bustling town of Delft city rights in 1246, that was considered the official 'year of birth' of the Oude Kerk. So the church actually has two birth years.
Impressive
At the time, the church was still named after St Bartholomew, the patron saint of its founder.
In the centuries that followed, the place of worship develops into an impressive Gothic basilica. But still the Old Church exudes something of the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.
Discover more about the history of the Old Church
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The genesis
The origins of Delft's oldest church go back to the dark beginning of the Middle Ages. Around 1050, the settlement along the 'Delf' probably already had a small tufa church measuring about twelve by thirty metres.
Extensions Old Church
Over time, the Old Church grew with Delft. Around 1240, civil servant Bartholomeus van der Made had two aisles and a choir built: the first expansion.
Restorations Old Church Delft
Over the centuries, the Old Church has undergone several restorations to withstand the effects of fires, a massive explosion and the ravages of time.