- Der Aa-kerk
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Aa-kerk Der A-kerk 
Der Aa-kerkCoordinates: 53°13′09″N 6°34′06″E / 53.21917°N 6.56833°E Location Groningen (city), Groningen (province) Country The Netherlands Website www.aakerk.nl History Dedication Our Lady, Saint Nicholas Architecture Status Church Designated 1200 Architectural type Church Style Gothic Specifications Length 76 m (249 ft 4 in) Width 25 m (82 ft 0 in) Height 76 m (249 ft 4 in) Floor area 1,155 m2 (12,430 sq ft) Dome height (inner) 26 m (85 ft) Materials Brick The Der Aa-kerk (also: A-kerk) is the second Middle Ages church building in the city center of Groningen, The Netherlands (except for the demolished Sint-Walburgkerk and Broerkerk[clarification needed]).
Contents
History
Originally there was a chapel situated on the site of the current church. This chapel was devoted to Mary and to Saint Nicholas, the patron of the bargees who cast off the vesels at the Westerhaven (Westerharber).
In 1247, the chapel became the parish church and was named Onze Lieve Vrouwe ter Aa (Our Lady at the Aa) - Aa being the nearby river. Groningen had two centers at the time. One of them was around the chapel. Here lived the fishermen and the traders.
Between 1425 and 1465, the chapel was changed into a brick church with a transept.
Towers
Images of the Siege of Groningen in 1672 show Der Aa-kerk without the top of the tower. After the war a new wooden tower top was built.
On 23 April 1710, the tower spontaneously collapsed killing two people. In 1711, a new tower was built.
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Der Aa-kerk 1710
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Der Aa-kerk 18th century
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Der Aa-kerk before 1880
Organs
In 1667, an organ was built by Van Hagerbeer. It was demolised by fire in 1671.[1]
The first Schnitger organ in the church was built by Arp Schnitger in 1697 (see gallery for a sketch). In 1710, the tower of the church collapsed and the organ was destroyed.[2]
The second Schnitger was built in 1702, originally for the Broerkerk in Groningen. In 1815, the organ was transferred to the Aa-kerk.[3]
The Bolsward organ build by Raphael Rodensteen in 1550 was originally for the Martinikerk in Bolsward. In 1635, the organ was transferred to the Broerkerk in Groningen and in 1877 it was transferred back to the Martinikerk in Bolsward. In 1991, is was transferred again to Groningen and the Aa-kerk.
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Schnitger organ (built in 1702 by Arp Schnitger)
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Bolsward organ (built in 1550 by Anthonie Verbeeck)
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Sketch of Schnitger organ (1694)
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Der Aa-kerk
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Map of Der Aa-kerk
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Hoge der Aa with church
References
External links
Categories:- Churches in the Netherlands
- Groningen (city)
- Rijksmonuments in Groningen (province)
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