Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 51° 55.289 E 004° 29.074
31U E 602091 N 5753346
This church is the only remaining piece of medieval Rotterdam and was heavily damaged by German bombing on May 14, 1940.
Waymark Code: WMCT5M
Location: Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Date Posted: 10/09/2011
Views: 27
Construction of this church occurred between 1449 and 1525 with the tower being completed in 1655. Unlike many other European cities, this Gothic church is unique here. Especally in this neighborhood, the architecture is dominated by modern and abstract-appearing buildings. The interior of the Church is also different...no particular alterplace. A gigantic organ dominates the center. Two alcoves have ancient gravesites. One alcove has statues of many different saints. There is also an abstract sculpture inside representing many of the more notable sights in Rotterdam.
This Michilin website (
visit link) further informs us:
"This gothic church, with its truncated tower set into the nave, was completed in 1646. Destroyed in May 1940, then restored, St Laurenskerk has been returned to its original state, including all the gothic tracery at the east end. The broad-naved interior is in the architectural style of Brabant, its austerity softened by the warm colours of its panelled vault. In the transept there are tombs belonging to 17th Century admirals and a graceful 16th Century organ."
Wikipedia (
visit link) adds:
"At first, this basilica was the only stone building in Rotterdam. Many important events took place here. The last pastor of the Laurenkerk was Hubertus Duifhuis. The Reformation took place in 1572 and the Laurenskerk became a Protestant church. Pastors of the Church have included Laurens Johannes Jacobus van Oosterzee, Abraham Hellenbroek, Jan Scharp and J.R. Callenbach, who some years before the bombing wrote a book about the history of the church. The church is still used for worship of the Protestant Church.
During the bombing on May 14, 1940 the Laurenskerk was also heavily damaged. At first, there have been calls to demolish the church, but was stopped by the Germans. Within the provisional National Commission for the monument were supporters and opponents of restoration. In particular architectural committee J.J.P. Old opposed rebuilding in 1950 and released an alternative plan in the advertising which only the tower as a remnant would be preserved. Besides the memorial, a new smaller church can be rebuilt. This alternative plan was set aside, especially since the restored St. Lawrence too much as a symbol of the resilience of the Rotterdam community was seen. In 1952, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands laid the foundation stone for the restoration, which was completed only in 1968."
See a history on the Church's own website at (
visit link) which for this incident only reads: " Bombing of May 1940.
On 14 May 1940, both church and tower are very heavily damaged by fire resulting from the bombing of Rotterdam. Only the walls of the church and the tower remain."