Sint-Janskerk

I’m normally quite sceptical about cathedrals that ask for an entrance fee, but this one is worth it!
While less opulent than its counterparts in Italy, it’s huge –123m.
One of the cathedrals’ features is its stain glass windows with biblical themed scenes.
You can tell that some of the cathedrals parts are really really old, making your visit much more interesting. During my visit, there was also an art exhibition; well placed lamp light made the pictures interactive.
There is also a coffee machine, serving drinks for 1.5 EUR, which is handy to those in need for an energy boost!
The entrance fee is 5 EUR.

Gouda is a fabulous and very walkable small city in Holland. In this town there are some churches. At times they may have been Catholic ones, now they are likely Protestant. History has a way of changing the occupants but keeping the venues the same. This is a fabulous example of an old church.
The stained glass here is remarkable. They actually removed it in WW II because they wanted to protect it from the Germans. Come for the stained glass, marvel at the whole structure. You will be walking on graves though, many were buried under the church and the stones may be a marker. Its just how it was done.

Una iglesia católica que terminó protestando en el XVII y que permanece así hasta el día de hoy; el ornamento de sus elementos originales (particularmente las vidrieras, el órgano y las escayolas) contrasta muchísimo con la austeridad de la bancada y el altar actuales, que son como los de la capilla de mi colegio.
Es la iglesia más larga de Holanda, cosa que aprovechan para tener una mini-​sala de exposiciones de cuadros modernos sobre temática cristiana; los que había expuestos estaban bastante bien, pero como no tengo ni idea de arte, tampoco me hagáis excesivo caso. En el resto de cosas tampoco.
Aprovechando también que es tan larga, en el ’46 añadieron unas vidrieras al final de la nave para conmemorar el final de la 2ª Guerra Mundial; sinceramente, no se nota la diferencia con el resto de vidrieras, salvo porque abundan las banderas nacionales y otros trapos de colores.
Para rematar, la persona que nos ha atendido a la entrada era muy maja y se ha esforzado en explicarle las cosas a mi madre en un castellano digno de un Cherokee, cosa que es muy de agradecer. Sin embargo, temo que el templo en sí, a pesar de sus cualidades arquitectónicas y ornamentales, no me ha impactado tanto como otros del estilo. Será por esa manía protestante de ponerles cafetería dentro (aunque esta vez sea sólo una máquina), que desluce.

BEAUTIFUL.
famous for it’s stained glass windows. they were amazing.
they had an immense organ. huge.
but what really got me were the grave stones that WERE the floor.
they were scattered all around, interspersed with blank floor stones.
some had such beautiful, intricate carvings on them & some were completely rubbed out.
)it made me EXTREMELY sad that we were all just traipsing over these centuries-​old pieces of history & it was allowed. they should really remove them so that they can be preserved, at least from this point on. it really blows my mind that in this day & age of historical preservation that it’s happening. oh well.)
anyway, GO. it’s a fantastic church!