Old Church

Delft / Amsterdam, Netherlands

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The Old Church (Oude Kerk) in Delft, Netherlands, dates back to 1246 and is renowned for its remarkable 75-meter-high leaning brick tower that tilts about two meters from vertical, often called "Leaning Jan." Built partly on the site of earlier churches and originally dedicated to St. Bartholomew, the church was expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries, evolving from a basilica to a hall church.

Its leaning tower is attributed to unstable foundations due to construction over an old canal, and attempts to compensate for the tilt during building have created a distinctive kink in the structure visible today. The church's interior showcases beautifully carved woodwork including a pulpit from 1548, stained-glass windows designed by Joep Nicolas, and numerous notable graves including the famous Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.

Despite damage over centuries from fires, iconoclasm, and explosions, the church remains an active parish and historic landmark symbolizing Delft’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.