The Grote or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is the most important monument of Breda. It also has national significance. Part of the church is the Prinsenkapel, which is the mausoleum of the early ancestors of the Dutch royal family, the Nassau-Dillenburg family.
The church is located in the center of Breda on the Grote Markt. It is a cross basilica in the Brabant Gothic style, which has been restored several times over time.
The church is the landmark of Breda. The tower of the church, visible from a distance at 97 meters high, can be climbed on some days. Upstairs there is a view over the Grote Markt and the city. The church building is free to visit and is now mainly used for concerts, courses, symposiums, fairs, fashion shows, school excursions, exhibitions and as a restaurant.
The church has been Protestant since 1637. Nowadays a church service is still held ten times a year. Baptisms, wedding celebrations, memorial services and funerals also take place regularly.
Both because of its construction and its location, the church is considered one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. As an example of Brabant Gothic, it is the most intact and elegant in the Netherlands, although less known than St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch. The church is in the 'Top 100 of the National Office for Monument Care' from 1990.
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