Haarlem - St Bavo Cathedral

(Local Name: St Bavo Kathedraal) At Leidsevaart 146 stands the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St Bavo, a three-aisle cruciform basilica (by J. Cuypers, 1895-1906). 100m/328ft long, 42m/138ft wide and 60m/187ft high, it is a good example of the transition to modern architecture, curiously combined with neo-Gothic and even Arab elements. The tower was added in 1927-30. The cathedral treasury contains valuable silver liturgical utensils and a reliquary with the remains of St Bavo, who is also commemorated by a statue at the east end of the church. Other notable features of the cathedral are the fine stained glass and the sculpture and pictures by well known Dutch artists such as Toorop, Derkindern, Bijvoet, Maas, Brom and Andriessen. The Willibrord Organ, built in 1923 by the Adema firm, has four manuals and 75 stops; there are periodic organ recitals from Easter to the end of September.