Nederland - Medemblik, Bonifaciuskerk

The construction of the Bonifaciuskerk (Boniface Church) started in 1404 and was completed in the 15th century. In the year of 1517 the city was attacked and burnt; the church was also destroyed, however the tower remained undamaged. After re reconstruction city and church were burnt to the ground and again the tower was spared.
The rebuilding started again in 1555 in the same form as the current church. The church is a late-gothic hall church with three aisles.

The tower - hundred years older than the church - got its present crowning in 1661. It has three bells, the oldest and largest has a diameter of 1,25 metres. The tower of the church is leaning, which is possibly caused by the reclamation of the Wieringermeer (a polder near Medemblik). Over the past 30 years, it has subsided by an average of 3 mm per year.

Originally Sint Maarten (Saint Martin) was the second church patron, next to Sint Bonifacius (Saint Boniface). After the Reformation in 1572 the name of Bonifacius remained with the Reformed church and Sint Maarten became the principle patron of the Roman Catholic church in Medemblik.