Leaning about two meters from the vertical, the Oude Kerk (Old Church) is hard to miss. Nicknamed “Scheve Jan” (Crooked John), the high brick tower of the church hits about 75m. Founded in 1246, the central spire of the tower is accompanied by four corner turrets that were added on in the early 1300s, and it towered above all buildings in the town until the construction of the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). The curious leaning tower resulted from part of its construction ending up on top of a former canal, which was not a sound foundation for the heavy stones used to build the tower (although it is now fully stabilized).

As you enter, you will find a grand organ above the main entrance to the nave, built in 1857, and the biggest of the three organs that can be found in the church. Take a closer look at the intricately carved pulpits and the 20th century stained glass windows that depict biblical stories and tell of the historical events in Dutch history. You can also find the tomb markers of renowned individuals of the Dutch Golden Age, such as Johannes Vermeer and Antony van Leeuwenhoek.