Geertekerk (Geerte Church), Utrecht

Geertekerk (Geerte Church), Utrecht

The Geertekerk is one of the four parish churches in Utrecht that were dedicated, back in the Middle Ages, to Saint Gertrude of Nivelles; it is the smallest and youngest of them. The original church in this area was built outside the city walls, but then moved within the walls between 1248 and 1259.

Since then it had seen many renovations, including the Gothic main tower (probably the oldest preserved element) erected in the 13th century, nave aisles – dating from around 1400; and the choir and transept – from the 14th century. Built of brick, the tower carries two bells: the Ghertrut, weighting 1150 kilos, made in 1477; and the Jesus Maria Johannes (650 kilos), made in 1506.

On April 24, 1793, the notable Dutch mathematician, Laurens Praalder, was interred in the Geertekerk.

Following the Reformation, the Geertekerk was successively used as a Reformed church, a stable, barracks, and a warehouse; then, from 1814 to 1930, it had been used again as a place of worship. In 1855, following the Rhine flood, hundreds of residents of Veenendaal were temporarily accommodated in the building. By the end of the 1940s, the church had found itself in a ruinous state: almost no roof, and the trees growing inside.

After being purchased by the Remonstrant Brotherhood in the 1950s, the building has been completely renovated. Its sober exterior now has a rural vibe to it. The Geertekerk's organ, built in 1803, was moved here in 1956 from the Baptist church in De Rijp.

The exceptionally good acoustics, resulting from the restoration, has made the church a popular venue for concerts. In 2015, further adjustments were made to the interior, including large glass walls. Since 2017, the Geertekerk has also been extensively used for conferences, meetings and other public events.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Utrecht. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Geertekerk (Geerte Church) on Map

Sight Name: Geertekerk (Geerte Church)
Sight Location: Utrecht, Netherlands (See walking tours in Utrecht)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Utrecht, Netherlands

Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht

Create Your Own Walk in Utrecht

Creating your own self-guided walk in Utrecht is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Utrecht's Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Utrecht's Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Originally founded by the Romans, and once the most important city in the Netherlands, Utrecht boasts a generous share of historically significant structures. The collection of its architectural masterpieces, one of the richest in the country, dates back to the early Middle Ages.

The amazingly well-preserved pieces of historic architecture in Utrecht showcase the trends and movements throughout...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Utrecht Introduction Walking Tour

Utrecht Introduction Walking Tour

The earliest settlers to the area now called Utrecht likely arrived millennia ago during the Stone Age. While there are also signs of inhabitation during the Bronze Age, scholars today credit the Romans with building what became the town.

They set up a castellum around the year 50 AD, a fort right at a crossing point on the river Rhine. The fortress marked Rome's northernmost point in...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles