The little medieval town of Appingedam, 30km/19mi northeast of Groningen, was until the 14th century a port on the Waddenzee and the only walled town in the province apart from Groningen. The walls were pulled down after the conquest of the town by Charles V in 1536.
Appingedam still has many of its medieval buildings and is noted for the hanging kitchens over the river Damsterdiep.
The Nicolaikerk in Appingedam, built in the first half of the 13th century, was originally aisleless; the transepts and the choir were added in the second half of the century, the apse in the 14th century. Further extensions gave it its present form as a hall-church, with aisles of the same height as the nave. During restoration work in 1950 it was decorated with attractive wall and ceiling paintings. The pulpit dates from 1665, the organ from 1744.