Grote Kerk of Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk

The 15th century Grote or Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe Kerk is the most important monument and heart of Breda. Originally Catholic but reformed since the Iconoclasm of 1566. 

Count Engelbrecht I of Nassau in 1410, at the birth of his son Jan IV, commissioned the construction of a monumental church befitting the status of the Nassaus. With a crypt to house the Nassau family. Nine Nassaus and the first Prins van Oranje found their final resting place there. Willem van Oranje also wanted to be buried in the church with his first wife Anna van Egmont and their daughter Maria. But upon his death, Breda was occupied by the Spaniards and he had to be buried in Delft.

Prince's Chapel 

The imposing architecture , the (grave) monuments and the vault and wall paintings make the Grote Kerk one of the most important monuments of Brabant. Especially Hendrik III of Nassau contributed a lot to this, such as the Prince's Chapel with a gold leaf ceiling and the tomb for Engelbrecht II and his wife. 

The Grote Kerk Today

The Protestant congregation still holds church services in the Grote Kerk. But today it is primarily a place that connects history with today's world through art and culture.