Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk (English: Great, or St. Lawrence church) is a landmark Protestant church in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. The building is located on the Koorstraat, named for its choir. It is mostly closed in the winter and open for tourists in the summer months or by appointment.
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The Groote Kerk (1470–1498), dedicated to St Lawrence, is a handsome building and contains the tomb of Floris V, Count of Holland (d. 1296), a brass of 1546, and some paintings (1507).[1]
The mechanical clock has 27 bells by Melchior de Haze (1600s), and 8 modern bells.[2] The tower bell was made by Jan Moer in 1525, with a diameter or 130 cm.[2]
The church was built by Anthonius Keldermans (ca 1440-1512), from a church building family from Mechelen.[3] The two organs are famous. The smaller one, called the "Koororgel", is from 1511, and is built against the North wall of the church.[3] The larger one was built by Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer, finished in 1645, of which the doors of the cabinet were designed by Jacob van Campen and were painted by Caesar van Everdingen.[3] It was restored in 1723 by Frans Caspar Schnitger.[3] Anna Visscher is buried in this church.[3]
The church is formally owned by the "Stichting Behoud Monumentale Kerken Alkmaar", which conducts restoration activities and rents it out for weddings and concerts, but also facilitates various cultural initiatives of the city.[3]
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