Restoration Grote Kerk Breda

De Grote Kerk of Breda was built in the 15th and 16th centuries by order of the Nassau family. Centuries of influence from rain, sun, and frost have significantly affected the beautiful white limestone with which the church is built. 

After the church was made wind and waterproof around the turn of the century, it is now time to restore the ornaments of the choir ambulatory on the outside. This restoration will continue until 2027.

The Great Church was originally constructed with stone from Belgian limestone quarries. Unfortunately, these are now largely depleted. Fortunately, there is still plenty of limestone available in the British Portland.

The restoration is being carried out by Monument Vandekerckhove from Zottegem, Belgium. A renowned company that is also working on the restoration of the fire-damaged Notre Dame in Paris. 

The work focuses on replacing, restoring, and conserving the ornaments on the ambulatory. Both existing and newly made ornaments are processed using the latest technology. This way, they can last for hundreds of years.

Milling machine
Worn stones that are replaced during the restoration are first replicated in their original form with clay and then 3D photographed. Subsequently, a robot mills out the basic shape. The finishing touch remains a craft that is done by hand. Just like it was 500 years ago.

Once the milling machine has completed its work, a skilled sculptor finishes the ornaments. Carefully, he adds all the details, giving the ornament its so-called 'historical stroke', which gives character to the stone. 

The entire process is closely monitored by the restoration architect and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. 

A necessary evil during any renovation or restoration is a construction fence. De Grote Kerk and Blind Walls Gallery turned this necessity into a virtue with the project Kerk Binnenstebuiten. Artists paint panels for the construction fence, drawing inspiration from the interior of De Grote Kerk. 

Artists
So far, panels have been painted by Zenk One, Maria Piccione, MonkeyBird Crew, Nina Valckhoff, Pink Panther Paints, and Frank Stoks (Franky Sticks). New paintings will be added in October. 

As if that weren't enough, the monumental Flentrop organ in De Grote Kerk also urgently needs restoration. Parts have deteriorated, the painting needs to be restored, and due to leaks in the church in the past, the organ sounds a tone too high. This is not a problem when the organ plays alone, but playing together with other instruments is much more difficult. The restoration will begin at the end of 2024. 

Nassau colours
The organ in De Grote Kerk is a composite organ dating back to 1969. It is one of the largest church organs in our country and is painted in the Nassau colours of blue and gold. On top of the organ, two lions and an angel hold the Breda coat of arms together.