This year Alkmaar is celebrating it’s 500 year anniversary of the “Grote Kerk” with some special events, that will be a memorable experience for the cruise passengers.
Visitors will be able to clime around the outside of the church by scaffolding. The “stairway to Heaven” will first lead to the terrace 20 meters high. Thereafter the visitors will enter the church through a window. The visitors will then proceed on a walkway 20 meters high which will allow them to admire the famous vaulting on the inside of the chapel. “The Last Judgment” by Jacob van Oostsanen was only visible from the ground for the last 500 years. Now visitors will be face to face will all the bizarre Jeroen Bosch like figures that live in this 16th century piece of art.
After “The Last Judgement” visitors will proceed further up towards the roof of the church. From the terrace they will follow a staircase upwards and will proceed to walk on the roof towards the celebration tower. Which is situated 40 meters above the ground. No place in Alkmaar will get you closer to heaven. On this celebration tower a balcony has been created which offers views of the gothic brick architecture church, the city and the surrounding landscape.
Further the Church will display the altar piece of Maarten van Heemskerck, which is worth a trip. It was specially design for the Church, however after the reformation sold to the Swedish Linköping. The side shutters have been relocated to Alkmaar especially for this anniversary.
“Stairway to Heaven” will at least be open to the public for three months. Starting May 1st till the 31st of July. The climb is open daily from 11:00 till 16:00 and is limited to 150 visitors per hour.
For more information about the church and the climb please contact Mirella Doss info@deklimnaardehemel.nl and www.klimnaardehemel.nl.