Nederland - Thorn, Sint-Michaëlskerk of Abdijkerk

The Sint-Michaëlskerk or Abdijkerk (St. Michael's Church or Abbey Church) is a church building in Thorn (known as 'the white village' for its white-washed brick houses in the centre of town.).

The history of Thorn - which starts at the end of the 10th century - is closely connected with that of a convent, which was founded around 975 as a noble Benedictine monastery by Count Ansfried van Teisterband and his wife Hilsonmdis. This convent evolved into a more secular foundation for ladies of high nobility, known as a “Stift”. Later it became the nucleus of the small principality of Thorn.

The church was largely built in the 14th century and replaced an older structure. Laterr this Romanesque building was almost completely replaced by a Gothic house of worship. By the end of the 18th century a radical change to the abbey’s church interior is instigated: walls were painted white, a new marble floor was laid and the pillars were given new stuccoed capitals. The church received its current baroque interior. In 1785 the current high altar was re-installed – coming from a suppressed Roermond Carthusian monastery - in the church.

After the French invasion in 1797 the “stift” was ablolished and almost all convent buildings were demolished. Solely the church is prreserved and fortwith serves as parish church for Thorn as Sint-Michaëlskerk.
Famous architect Pierre Cuypers from Roermond restored the church at the end of the 19th century. Among other things, Cuypers had the eastern chapels demolished and the neogothic tower raised.

The Sint-Michaëlskerk or Abdijkerk is listed in the 'Top 100 of Dutch heritage sites’. The church can be visted at a small fee.