Pieterskerk (Leiden)

The Pieterskerk is a late Gothic church in the Dutch city of Leiden.

History

At the site of the present Pieterskerk was in 1100 a chapel of the Counts of Holland, which was in 1121 replaced by a new building. Since 1268 the parish church was under the patronage of the Saint Peter and Paul. 1300 started with a Gothic building, which was completed around 1350 and had a 110 meter high tower. 1390 began the construction of the present church; Work started on the choir room, which was completed in 1412. This was followed by work on the nave and the side aisles. 1512 collapsed the high tower. In the following years the church was extended to the west and increases the transept. In 1572 the church was taken over by the Protestants. In the 17th century small houses were added to the church, some of which in the east remained. Leiden University uses the church for special occasions as an auditorium. Since 1975 it has been used only sporadically for liturgical occasions and is available for various purposes.

Organ

The organ was built in 1643 by the organ builder Galtus Germer van Hagerbeer, with pipe material from the 15th and 16th centuries was reused. The instrument has 36 registers on three manuals and pedal.