Sint Baafskerk
The Saint Bavo Church or Saint Bavo's Church in Aardenburg was founded in 959 by monks from the Saint Bavo's Abbey in Ghent, but the oldest part contains building materials that originate from the Roman Castellum from around 175-270 AD. In 1949, painted medieval graves were found in the church. The Saint Bavo Church is on the list of the Top 100 monuments of the Netherlands - mainly because of the Scheldt Gothic architectural style. The church in Aardenburg is the only remaining example in the Netherlands that was built in this style. You can visit the church or organize an event there.
Location
Aardenburg
Year built
959
Building Style
Scheldt Gothic
Nickname
St. Baafs church
Details
Top 100 monument
For rent for
Weddings, concerts and other events
Owned by Monumentenbezit
Since 2016
Wheelchair accessible
Yes, first floor
Visitor information
The Sint-Bavokerk can be visited and rented for special occasions. For a visit to the church, you can go to the reception desk in the adjacent Roman Museum.
Visiting address:
Sint Bavostraat 5, 4527 CJ Aardenburg
In 959, the monks of the Ghent Saint Bavo's Abbey founded a Romanesque chapel on the site of the current Saint Bavo Church. Remains of this chapel were found under the transept. In 1050, the chapel was expanded into a Romanesque church with an exceptional cloverleaf-shaped choir. The high altar was located here.
The shape of the current church originated around 1230, when the Romanesque church was expanded in the Scheldt Gothic style. The transept, the nave and the tower are the most defining features of the Scheldt Gothic character. The church was raised and was fitted with pointed windows that let in more light. Members of the urban elite were buried in painted burial chambers under the church.
In the second half of the 14th century, the choir of the church was replaced by a late Gothic brick hall choir. This made the church almost twice as large. However, the Sint-Bavokerk suffered greatly from military violence. In the years 1583-1579, the church was plundered, after which the building fell into ruin. Only the walls, columns and tower were still standing. In 1604, Aardenburg was conquered from the Catholic Spaniards by Prince Maurits of Orange. The Sint-Bavokerk was restored in the decades after the conquest and put into use as a Protestant church.
In 1672, Aardenburg was besieged by the French troops of Louis XIV. With the help of the people of Aardenburg, the Dutch occupation managed to resist the attack. The captured French soldiers were taken to the church, where the wounded were also cared for.
In 1944, the Sint-Bavokerk was severely damaged by heavy Allied artillery bombardments. To make matters worse, the tower fell onto the nave during a heavy storm at the end of 1945. A thorough restoration took place between 1947 and 1956. In 1960, the nave, transept and tower of the Sint-Bavokerk were transferred to the State.
Since 2016, Monumentenbezit has been the owner of the church. The choir, the consistory room and the post-war sacristy are still owned by the Reformed Church. In 2018-2019, Monumentenbezit replaced the slate roofing of the nave and the aisles.
In 1949, during excavation work in the church under the transept and the choir, fourteen rare, painted brick burial vaults were found. They date from the 13th and 14th centuries and are painted with images of the Virgin Mary and the crucifixion of Christ. The graves are also decorated with various floral and cross motifs and several parrots and birds of paradise are depicted. The birds These symbolize the transition from earthly life to heaven.
A number of these burial vaults can be visited. The burial vaults were created in a period when Aardenburg was a flourishing centre of trade and the cloth industry. Unfortunately, it is unknown who was buried in the burial vaults. Nevertheless, the richly painted graves illustrate the prosperity of the urban elite of medieval Aardenburg.