“A simple wooden chapel” you whisper. That’s how the Bakenesserkerk began in the mid-13th century. Count William II likely commissioned its construction. It stood on the Bakenes a spit of land in the Spaarne River. This area was the oldest part of Haarlem called Oud Haarlem until the 16th century.
The Bakenesserkerk wasn’t always grand. It was originally a modest chapel dedicated to Our Lady. This chapel is mentioned in accounts from 1421. It wasn’t until after 1461 that the chapel transformed into the church we partially see today. The building was constructed from red brick. This was the common building material at the time.
The Bakenesserkerk’s striking white tower was added around 1530. It is almost identical to the St Bavo Church tower. This reflects the architectural style of the time. After the Siege of Haarlem in 1573 the church served a rather unusual purpose. For fifty years it became a turf storage facility. Imagine the smell.
The north entrance bears an inscription from 1639. It’s in Latin. The words celebrate the church’s renovation. A small lion once graced the entrance. A 17th century sculpture by the famous Haarlem architect Lieven de Key. It mysteriously disappeared long ago.
The Bakenesserkerk served as a children’s church from 1779 to 1954. Children of families supported by the Reformed church diaconate were obligated to attend. Failure to attend meant loss of parental support. Space was also reserved for orphan girls.
Today the Bakenesserkerk houses Haarlem’s Archaeological Office. A restoration in 2010 gave the church new life. The project even won a public award in 2012. The apse’s stained-glass windows were redesigned with unique comic book art. Six Haarlem artists were commissioned. Their work reflects the church’s transformation. Each artist’s unique style is clearly visible.
The windows’ imagery is remarkable. One depicts St Bavo as a modern architect excavating a Spanish soldier from the Eighty Years’ War. Another shows the Bakenesserkerk priest ascending to heaven to become an architect. God blesses the new church use with a paintbrush.
One window shows an archaeologist and a priest with symbols of their trades underground. Another depicts two archaeologists dancing on a bishop’s skeleton. And there is a window depicting a shredded city emblem over a map of medieval Haarlem.
Joost Swarte designed the window above the door. The three vertical sections depict historic Haarlem churches. The Grote Kerk is in the center. The Bakenesserkerk is on the right. The Waalse Kerk is on the left. The Bakenesserkerk’s role as a pilgrim shelter on the Santiago de Compostela route is represented by scallop shells and red shoes. Fish representing those once found in the Spaarne River are visible.
The restoration was a triumph of preservation and modern functionality. It combined inventive design craftsmanship and sustainability. The Bakenesserkerk is a living testament to Haarlem’s history. It’s a place where the past meets the present. A place where stories are told and history is preserved.