Brouwershaven
(Z): Grote of Sint Nicolaaskerk
Brouwershaven is a small
town, but the size of the big reformed church makes it easy to believe
that at one time it was much larger. However, although Brouwershaven
was a town of some economic importance in the Middle
Ages, the church does not so much remind of this former glory as more
of the competition with nearby Zierikzee, a town that was much bigger
and had more rights. Formerly known as
St. Nicolaas, the reformed church is a three-aisled
hall-church in Gothic style. Because there was no space available in
Brouwershaven itself, the church was built on the territory of
neighbouring Duivendijke, which became part of Brouwershaven later.
A first choir was built in ca. 1300, to
which a nave was added some 25 years later. The choir was replaced by a
transept shortly after 1400. A new choir was built, with an ambulatory
and radiating chapels, in a style that combines elements of both
Flemish and Brabantine Gothic. Work on the three-aisled nave started
in the
first quarter of the 16th century. The old nave was replaced by the
current central aisle, but using the old wooden vaulting. The northern
aisle was completed in
the second quarter of that century and was one trave longer; the other
two aisles were lengthened later. In the third quarter of the 16th
century the western and southern portals were added, as well as a long
vanished baptistry at the front of the southern aisle and the sacristy
between the southern
transept-arm and the choir.
The church was repaired in 1743-1744 and
1836. During this last occassion the western windows were closed. The
church was restored in 1876-1892 according to plans by
E.J.
Margry. Other
restorations were in 1963, repairing the damage of the big flood of
1953, and in 1991-1994.
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