The Old Tower
The Oude Toren is considered the oldest remaining building in Warmond.
Next to the Old Tower are the ruins of the old Matthias Church. This was destroyed by the Leiden people prior to the siege of Leiden in 1573, together with the two adjacent monasteries and other large buildings in the area. The Leiden people wanted to prevent the Spaniards from finding a safe haven there.
As early as the 11th century, the convent St. Ursula or the 1000 Virgins stood next to the tower. This convent was connected to the church via an underground passage. What remains today is a picturesque place with medieval ruin walls and unusual flora. A small part of the underground monastery is still intact. There are still some remarkable graves, for example that of Jacob van den Woude, lord of Warmond, from 1398, and a tomb of the Old Catholic church leaders, the Jansenists.
In 157…
Next to the Old Tower are the ruins of the old Matthias Church. This was destroyed by the Leiden people prior to the siege of Leiden in 1573, together with the two adjacent monasteries and other large buildings in the area. The Leiden people wanted to prevent the Spaniards from finding a safe haven there.
As early as the 11th century, the convent St. Ursula or the 1000 Virgins stood next to the tower. This convent was connected to the church via an underground passage. What remains today is a picturesque place with medieval ruin walls and unusual flora. A small part of the underground monastery is still intact. There are still some remarkable graves, for example that of Jacob van den Woude, lord of Warmond, from 1398, and a tomb of the Old Catholic church leaders, the Jansenists.
In 1579, the Lord of Warmond had the choir of the church rebuilt and gave it to the Reformed. The Lords and Ladies of Warmond remained owners of the church. They themselves remained faithful to the Roman Catholic Church.
In its present form the tower probably dates from the 15th century and it was certainly built on the remains of previous towers. It is clear to see that the church was built around the tower and against it, so that we can safely assume that the tower is much older than the remains of the church. This is also indicated by the enormous monastery bricks that can be found in the masonry at the foot of the tower. It is said that these are the largest bricks in the Netherlands, 43 and 49 cm long. The tower has always remained part of the partially rebuilt church. After the new Reformed Church on Herenweg was taken into use in 1874, the tower remained the property of the Reformed Church. In 1968 only the tower was sold to the civil community of Warmond for the symbolic sum of fl. 1,00. The last restoration dates back to 1975.
The cemetery is owned by the Protestant congregation of Warmond.
