Pieterskerk, Leiden

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Old postcard of the church

Church Trustees room

The Pieterskerk is a late-Gothic church in Leiden dedicated to Saint Peter. It is best known today as the church of the Pilgrim Fathers where John Robinson was buried.

[edit] History

In around 1100 the site held the county chapel of the counts of Holland, rebuilt in 1121. The present building took approximately 180 years to build, starting in 1390. Famous Leiden dignitaries are buried there, including the painter Jan Steen and the Leiden professor Herman Boerhaave. The beautiful stained glass windows already took a terrible blow during the Beeldenstorm, but somewhat more than a century later were completely destroyed in the gunpowder explosion of January 12th, 1807. The windows were boarded up, and it wasn't until 1880 that a large-scale restoration took place.

The building was deconsecrated in 1971 and since 1975 is managed by a foundation and rented for a wide variety of events. Since 2001, with 50% government funding, a long-term restoration project has been started that will run until 2010. Discoveries made during this and earlier restorations are on permanent display in the church. A mummy is also on display, that the foundation has chosen not to subject to scientific scrutiny. Though the windows have been lost, the various grave monuments by prominent Leiden sculptors can still be seen. The building is open to the public.

[edit] Burials

Before 1811 many prominent people were buried in the Pieterskerk, like the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius (known for Arminianism), Herman Boerhaave, Jan Steen, and John Robinson, pastor of the "Pilgrim Fathers".

For a listing, see the category Burials at the Pieterskerk, Leiden.