A prominent church in a city tends to have the finest architecture and reflects the local culture and history. Delft has two churches fitting this description. Oude Kerk was named St. Bartholomew’s when established in 1246. The 246 foot, leaning brick bell tower was added a century later. Even more impressive is this 357 foot bell tower of Nieuwe Kerk (originally called St. Ursula’s). Construction of this Gothic beauty spanned 100 years starting in 1396. In 1584, William of Orange – the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau and father of the Netherlands – was assassinated and entombed in the New Church. The tradition has continued with every Dutch monarch.
