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Tale of two towers

Posted on May 9, 2026May 9, 2026 by Grubb

In Delft the Oude Kerk (old church) is known for its tower that leans towards the left.

Tilting towards the canal

The Gothic church was built in 1246.  The tower is about 2 meters off vertical due to the unstable ground near the canal. Inside are a number of gravestones laid flat as part of the floor.

Ancestral stubbing stone

Burial inside the church was considered a major honor, so that’s why if one is looking for Vermeer’s grave they just need to tread the pave stones with their shoes off and resort to a sort of barefoot braille. 

The Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) has an upright tower at the eastern end of the main square.

Upright tower

Nieuwe Kerk began construction in 1381 and was finished in 1496. It is example of the late Brabantine Gothic style that spread through the Low Countries in the Middle Ages. Using brick combined with natural stone details Nieuwe Kerk balances the grandeur of the French Gothic cathedrals with the practical construction traditions of the Netherlands.

Plenty of grandeur left on the inside

The inside of the church is famous as the burial place of the Dutch Royal family beginning with William the Silent, the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule and the founding father of the Netherlands.

William the Silent’s mausoleum

It’s hard to get lost in Delft since one of the two towers always seems to be in view.

2 thoughts on “Tale of two towers”

  1. Charlie says:
    May 9, 2026 at 12:51 pm

    I’ll bet you can walk to the top of them on some endless circular stairway (for a few euros) and see some fine views. I never pass up a tower walk.

    Reply
  2. Grubb says:
    May 9, 2026 at 1:16 pm

    The first time we stayed in Delft in 2016 we scampered up to the top of the tower. As I recall it had a nice 360 degree view of a very flat landscape. Nothing as dramatic as a Rocky Mountain gander.

    Reply

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