The five-hundred-year-old paintings on the barrel vault of the Grote Kerk Naarden, located 25 meters above the nave and choir, are exceptionally well-preserved every single panel has survived, something unparalleled in the Netherlands. The vault is not only an artistic treasure but also a historical and socio-cultural document from the early sixteenth century, earning the church the nickname “the Sistine Chapel of the North.”

Between September 2020 and March 2021, a team of restorers carried out a condition survey of the vault, commissioned by the Grote Kerk Naarden Foundation. Concerns had arisen that both the 500-year-old paint layers and the wooden structure supporting them were deteriorating. The study confirmed these concerns: paint was detaching, the wood was under excessive tension, and the vault needed cleaning.

Restoration is therefore essential to safeguard the vault for the future. Fragile, flaking paint must be stabilized, and various other damages repaired. In September 2024, the restoration of the vault began an undertaking involving 770 m² of painted wooden panels. The project is expected to take two years and cost €2 million.

In her lecture, director Ellen Snoep will discuss the unique qualities of the vault, the history and significance of the paintings, and the challenges of their restoration. The project brings together multiple restoration disciplines and extensive research into paint composition, painting techniques, the wooden support structure, and the history of previous restorations of this extraordinary sixteenth-century masterpiece.

Practical information

• One-time lecture: Saturday, September 27 at 11:00
• Free tickets available from September 1

Photo: Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands