Kerk BinnensteBuiten

The Grote Kerk Breda inspires

In the project Kerk BinnensteBuiten (Church InsideOut), a joint initiative of the Grote Kerk Breda and Blind Walls Gallery, several creative makers are invited to take inspiration from the church's lavish interior to realise new work on the construction fence. 

Kerk BinnensteBuiten creates a link between historical heritage and contemporary makers, puts the restoration of the Grote Kerk in a different light and turns the construction fence into an original and beautiful eye-catcher in the city centre.  

A project of Grote Kerk Breda in collaboration with Blind Walls Gallery.

About Kerk BinnensteBuiten

The Grote Kerk Breda is currently carrying out extensive and long-term restoration and renovation work on the exterior of the church's ambulatory. This restoration began in 2017 and will take a total of 10 years. During this long period of work, a construction fence has been erected on the side of the Grote Markt – an eyesore for many business owners and passers-by. In the project Kerk BinnensteBuiten, the construction fence becomes a platform for contemporary artists, who translate their impression of the church into images, thereby also enticing passers-by to visit the church and see for themselves.

The project

The construction fence features panels that are based on the Gothic windows of the ambulatory. A number of contemporary artists were invited to create the paintings on these panels; Robin Nas, Mara Piccione, Monkey Crew Bird and Nina Valkhoff, Franky Sticks (Frank Stok), Pink Panther Paints (Jasmine Roemendael) and Kelly Christogiannis. They have taken inspiration for their creations from elements from the interior of the Grote Kerk Breda. The artists were free to choose from the many historical details and stories. In addition to the Gothic panels with the artists' paintings, there are also panels with information about the restoration of the Grote Kerk, about the project and about the artists themselves. Through quotes, they explain which details in the church inspired them the most.

Place of connection in the heart of the city

The project Kerk BinnensteBuiten is in keeping with the new content and cultural policy of the Grote Kerk Breda. The church is the vibrant icon of the city and a dynamic venue for culture, art and knowledge sharing. From ancient times, there has been a natural connection between the Grote Kerk Breda as the city's public inner space and the Grote Markt as its outer space. Together, the church and the Grote Markt form the beating heart of the city of Breda.    

About Blind Walls Gallery

This project is organised in close cooperation with Blind Walls Gallery; the city mural museum. Since 2015, Blind Walls Gallery has been working on a new cityscape of Breda by reusing the grey and drab walls of the city as a canvas.

International artists are invited to work on a growing collection of murals inspired by Breda's past, present and future. The City Archive of Breda is one of the main sources of information, alongside the stories of residents. The selected artists receive an extensive briefing and make their initial designs on that basis. Combining contemporary artists, urban heritage and history, the Blind Walls Gallery initiative is both unique and accessible to local communities, visitors and art lovers. The exceptional initiative was awarded the Brabantse Erfgoedprijs (Brabant Heritage Award) in 2017. The construction fence is also an ideal location in the city centre for Blind Walls Gallery to raise its profile. After all, there are not many walls in the city centre that lend themselves or are available for such large murals. 

Kerk BinnensteBuiten was made possible thanks to the support of: Municipality of Breda, Breda Marketing and the Ondernemersfonds Breda.

Route and parking
Coming by train? The Grote Kerk Breda is a 10-minute walk from Breda railway station. The church is also easily accessible by bus. You can walk to us in a few minutes from the Karnemelkstraat or Vlaszak bus stops.

Coming by bike or moped? Then park in one of the free bicycle parking facilities. Improperly parked bicycles are regularly removed by the municipality.

Coming by car? The car parks De Prins and De Barones are closest to the Grote Kerk Breda. Click here for general information on parking in Breda.