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Saint Bavo Church - Pictures of The "Great Church" of Haarlem

By James Martin, About.com

2 of 5

St Bavo - Ceiling picture - About the Restoration

Harlem Picture, St. Bavo, Ceiling

Harlem Picture: St. Bavo Ceiling

James Martin
Here you look up to the ceiling with its wooden slats and a clock for clockwatchers.

First mention of St. Bavo came in 1313, but in 1328 a great fire ravaged Haarlem and the church was quite damaged. Rebuilding went on for around 150 years--for lack of funds building was often suspended. The last important restoration was done from 1981-1985.

St. Bavo is called Grote of St. Bavokerk, Haarlem's Great Church of St. Bavo.

You can visit the interior of St. Bavo Monday-Saturday 10am to 4pm. Guided tours are given on Saturdays. Admission is 2 Euros at time of writing.

Inside, St Bavo is quite interesting. You'll walk over lots of important Haarlem dignitaries buried under the floors.

Then there's the dogwhipper's chapel, not to mention the giant and the dwarf...

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