O.L. Vrouwekerk
The main church of Nieuwpoort, the O.L. Vrouwekerk stands near the market place. After a complete destruction through a bombardment in the First World War, the proper church building was reconstructed between 1920 and 1923 in the state of after the restoration around the turn of the century (1899 - 1905).
From this restoration a piece of a column was left at the south side of the church reminding of the fourth aisle, which was pulled down in 1834.
The church tower dates from a later period. It was finished in 1952 and now houses the carillon. Before the First World War a Renaissance tower from the 17th century was standing here, which was destroyed completely.
Building history :
1165 A chapel under the patronage of the Sint-Niklaas abbey in Veurne was constructed. Quickly it grows into a little one-nave Romanesque cross church with main nave, transept arms and choir. The tower is standing on the crossing.
1300-1325 The choir is enlarged to a three-aisles hall choir. However, the flat end is kept and forms a stylistic reminiscence to the Romanesque architecture.
15th century The lower church is enlarged to three equal halls in Gothic style.
16-18th century During this period a number of modifications and renovations are carried out, which have been undone afterwards. E.g. a broad cross-aisle functions for some time as main nave with an entry porch to the north and a five-sided choir to the south.
1631 The construction of the Renaissance tower in the southeast has been started, but one does not create more than the four-sided sub-structure.
1735 The tower is finished "Baroque" with an eight-sided superstructure and a helmet-shaped spire.
1914-18 During the First World War the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is destroyed completely.
1922 Except for the spire, the Gothic hall church is built up historiated. J. Viérin from Bruges is the architect.
1946 Reconstruction of the damage after the fire of 1940, when the roofs and the vaults collapsed.
1952 North of the northern transept a freestanding Neogothic tower is constructed according to a design of the architects J. and L. Viérin.