Janskerk

The Janskerk or St. John’s Church is a beautiful historical building in the centre of Utrecht and one of the many churches that was built at the behest of Bishop Bernold, whose authority was greater than any other Utrecht bishop. The oldest part of the Janskerk was built in the 11th century as one of the five collegiate churches which, together, form the Utrecht cross of churches. Until the first half of the 16th century, the architecture of the Janskerk was completely Romanesque. In 1656 the Janskerk was given to a reformed protestant flock, but temporarily served as a military barracks for Russian and Prussian soldiers in the war against Napoleon. It was later used for storage and eventually fell in to disrepair. The choir was finally restored in 1947 and three decades later a new roof tower completed. The church is currently used by the EUG (Ecumenical Student Community of Utrecht), which hosts a service every Sunday at 11:00. Attending a service will leave you feeling unusually energetic, thanks to the lively music. Churchgoers stand together in a circle praying and singing.