The Grote or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in Dordrecht has been the beacon of the city and its surroundings for many hundreds of years.
The Flemish architect Everaert Spoorwater has played an important role in the construction of the church in its present form. The construction of the church, and actual rebuilding after the big city fire of 1457, was completed around 1470.
The reconstruction of the tower was also led by a Flemish architect, Antoon I Keldermans. The tower was never fully completely completed, because it began to tilt during construction.
On completion, four large clock faces were installed. To this day, the leaning tower and the immense clock faces determine the silhouette of the ‘Dordtse Dom’.
The Friends of the Grote Kerk
To preserve the special building, the Association of Friends of the Grote Kerk was founded in 1974. At that time, the monument was in a worrying condition. The association aims to arouse interest so that the largest and most visited monument in Dordrecht is preserved. Besides supporting cultural activities, the friends do more, such as book publishing, lectures and excursions.
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