To spot the Walloon Church, look for a tall, narrow brick building with a steep triangular roof and a quirky little octagonal tower on the left side-it’s completely wedged between other buildings right on Schoutenstraat.
Welcome to the Walloon Church-no, you’re not seeing double, the front is lopsided because of that charming turret! Imagine the year is 1504: you’d be standing in front of the brand-new chapel of the Sisters of the Common Life, dedicated to Saint Gertrude, with whispers of prayer and the rustle of habits all around. Fast-forward to 1686, and this chapel transforms into a spiritual home for the French-speaking Reformed community-who still hold French services today! Tucked away so snugly between the city’s old walls, some locals say only the most curious ever find it. Now, don’t miss the story of the small but mighty pipe organ inside, which began its journey in a church in Groningen in 1821, crossed several towns, and finally landed here-imagine organ-makers with their tools, expanding and restoring it over decades. These walls have witnessed everything, from secret sisterhoods to elegant French psalms. Be glad you’re just visiting-you don’t have to dust centuries of history off the pews!
