The 15th-century Grote Kerk Breda is the pride of the city. Originally Catholic, but since 1637 definitively reformed. Today, the Great Church Breda is a House of Stories. An innovative program connects today’s world with the stories and collection of the church.

Count Engelbrecht of Nassau commissioned the construction of the church in the fifteenth century, complete with a crypt for his family. Nine Nassaus and the first Prince of Orange found their final resting place here.

Inside and out
Not only the imposing architecture of the exterior but also the monuments inside the church and the vaulted and wall paintings make the Great Church the most important monument in Breda. Hendrik III of Nassau has particularly contributed to this. He and his wife Mencia de Mendoza brought Renaissance art to Breda. 
Especially remarkable is the Prince's Chapel with its ceiling decorated with gold leaf. Here lie the ancestors of our Royal House.

The 'Grootste Museum van Nederland'
Due to its valuable art treasures, the Great Church has been included in ‘The 'Grootste Museum van Nederland', an initiative of the Catharijne Convent in Utrecht.
As part of ‘The Grootste Museum’, there is an audio tour that allows you to wander through the church yourself. 

Interactive tours
New (August 2024) are the free interactive tours that allow you to discover the stories and highlights of the Grote Kerk. All you need is your smartphone. No need to download an app. You can read or listen to the info, play quizzes, click through for extra information, and set your own pace and the length of your tour. There are three tours: Quick Highlights, Women in the Picture, and the Family Tour. It’s also fun to do with a group!

Interactive Tours
New (August 2024) are the free interactive tours that allow you to discover the stories and highlights of the Grote Kerk. All you need is your smartphone. No need to download an app. You can read or listen to the info, play quizzes, click through to extra information and set your own pace and the length of your tour.  Also fun to do with a group. 

There are three tours: 

• Quick Highlights
• Women in the Picture 
• The Family Tour

Treasure Hunts
For those who want to discover the Grote Kerk in a playful way, there are three treasure hunts:

• Knight and Animals for the youngest
• Birds and Flora for everyone aged 8 – 88
• Puzzle hunt for children who enjoy a bit more of a challenge (10+)

Six centuries of Nassaus and the Grote Kerk
Through ten media players, the connection between the Grote Kerk and the Nassaus is explained. The exhibition provides in-depth information about the Nassaus and the monuments and paintings that make the interior of the church so interesting.
In the Choir Gallery, it is highlighted what significance the Breda Nassaus have had for architecture, painting, sculpture, medieval manuscripts, tapestry art, and stained glass art.

Discover more about the rich Nassau history of Breda.

The future of the Grote Kerk
The Grote Kerk has an innovative policy to ensure that the church remains meaningful in the future. Read more here about 'the Grote Kerk on its way to tomorrow'. 

Guided tours and tower climbs
The Gilde de Baronie regularly organises tower climbs and guided tours in the church. For this, check the agenda of the Grote Kerk. 

Conference location
The Grote Kerk also offers a splendid environment for holding various types of meetings for 10 to 1000 people.

Admission price
The Grote Kerk  is free to access for at least eight months of the year. A voluntary donation for maintenance and restoration is, of course, always welcome. During exhibitions or events, there may be an entrance fee. Information about this can be found on the website of the Grote Kerk.

Accessibility
The icons at the bottom of this page indicate how accessible this place is for visitors with physical disabilities. 

Explore Royal Breda hotspot
The Grote Kerk Breda is part of the Explore Royal Breda route.   This route takes you on a journey to discover places that remember Breda’s royal roots and connects surprising new spots with its history. Curious? Check out the route here.