Point of Interest

Year built: 1580
Original function: Church

The history of the Nieuwkerk begins in the twelfth century. In 1175, the St. Nikolaaskapelle, as the Nieuwkerk was then called, was consecrated as the parish church. Around the year 1420, the church underwent a substantial expansion and became a so-called hall church. In 1568, the church was almost completely destroyed in a severe fire. The remaining part was rebuilt in the period 1580-1592 to a simple double-choir church, half the size of the one before the fire.

Until 1829, the Nieuwkerk and its surrounding cemetery was the burial place of many Dordrecht families. More than 2240 inhabitants of Dordrecht found their last resting place here. The most beautiful graves were located on the west and north sides, and the municipal graves on the south side. There is not much left of them; only a few original gravestones have been preserved in the church floor. Since 1960, the building has no longer had a church function. In 1986, the church was restored while maintaining its silhouette. Today, it houses a kitchen and cookery shop.