Album Climb to Heaven 

In 2018 was celebrated that the Saint Laurens Church also known as the Big Church in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, existed for 500 years. On this occasion, a 'Climb to Heaven' was organized by building a steel scaffolding structure against the church and on the ridge of the roof, so you could climb to a balcony at a height of 20 meters and further on to the ridge of the roof, 40 meters of high. From the first balcony one opened a window to gain access to a platform inside the church, also made via a scaffolding structure right under the famous the famous ceiling painting of Jacob van Oostzanen 'The Last Judgment', made in 1518, to be able to admire all the fantastic details from close sight. Unique! From the platform you could climb to the ridge of the Church with a fantastic view over Alkmaar and the surrounding area. After a circle around the carillon, closer you will never get, than down again to give way to the other people to climb up as well. For safety reasons, only 40 people could be on the ridge at the same time. The photos also show how subtle the construction was.

In the church itself, the side panels of the famous Laurentius Altarpiece made by Maarten van Heemskerck were exhibited, painted between 1538 and 1543. After the reformation, it was sold for little money to a modest diocese in Linköping, Sweden, and is now a priceless possession. Only the side panels could be transported to Alkmaar for the exhibition. The middle part was too fragile to transport.

For this occasion the protective panels of the great Hagerbeer / Schnitger organ from 1511 were also open, the oldest organ that can still be played in the Netherlands.

The famous Alkmaar painter Ceasar van Everdingen has painted the representations on the inside of the protective panels. By their vulnerability the are not to watch very often.