appearances can be deceptive
My twenty-first entry to Norms Thursday Doors. Deceptive doors. The door of the St-Jan Cathedral in Gouda is deceptively small. But if you enter you will discover one of the largest cathedrals in Holland. Not in volume, but in length.
The church is dedicated to John the Baptist, the patron saint of Gouda, and was built during the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1552 a large part of the church burned, including the archives. Most information of the early period is taken from the diaries of Ignatius Walvis. Around 1350 a tower was built (only the lower part remains). In 1485 the foundation was built for the present-day choir. This expansion made the church the longest in the Netherlands, with a length of 123 meters.
The stained glass windows were made and installed primarily by the brothers Dirk and Wouter Crabeth I, in the years 1555-1571, and after a short stop for the Protestant Reformation, until 1603. During the Reformation the church was spared, because the city fathers sided with the reigning king Philip II of Spain, rather than William the Silent, representing the Orange rebels. Later, after the orangists conquered the northern half of Holland, Gouda reverted to Orange in 1572. It was only during this period that the church was in danger, and three weeks later an angry mob stormed the church and plundered the contents, but fortunately left the windows intact. The church was closed, but many wealthy regents of the city attempted to have it reopened. In 1573 the Gouda council prohibited the practice of Roman Catholic religion and in the summer it was opened for the Protestant Dutch Reformed faith, which it still has today.
#ThursdayDoors is a post series run by Norm Frampton. If you like interesting doors, visit his site and check out what people are sharing today. Thursday Doors 18 februari
WitchWithaView 
That door while bold and strong doesn’t give any indication of what lies within! Thanks for sharing the interior as well – so stunning.
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Those are some formidable doors! The stained glass windows are beautiful. I’m so glad they survived and thanks for sharing them and their history with us.
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When I first looked at the door I thought it was the entrance to a prison. Those stained glass windows are amazing, so glad they’ve survived.
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When looking at the stained glass windows, I wonder if the door has been put in earlier or later….since it’s not a Gothic style door. Interesting that you call them the Orange rebels, since they were the Dutch and the Spanish were at that time the suppressors:) (yes, I’m Dutch)
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I echo what has been said above me. The door is neat, but the stained glass is gorgeous. What a turbulent and frustrating history this church had. It’s heartening to hear and see has survived it all beautifully, and is still being used.
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Wow on those doors, ooh and ahh over the stained glass! Really beautiful stuff — thanks for sharing 🙂
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Wow! I’m so glad the windows were spared. It must be uplifting to be surrounded by such beauty during the church service. Do you attend services there? Thanks for sharing the interior as well as the proud door.
janet
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I do. Thanks. Glad to share it!
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I love stained glass so much, it is so beautiful and for me invokes calm or energy depending on what I need. Thank you sharing this door and what is behind it too 🙂
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Thank you!
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Lovely door indeed, but that stained glass is truly stunning – wonderful post!
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Handsome door with history and character. I love stained glass and these beautiful windows are no exception. Nice. 🙂
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Thanks! Proud that these windows are on the UNESCO world heritage list 🙂 Recognised as the most beautiful stained glass in the world! In my own church …
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