A kerkenkruis (Dutch: literally "church-cross") is a formation of churches that form a cross on a map. The primary example is in

Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...

, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, where five churches form a cross: the Utrecht Cathedral (known as the ''Dom'') in the center, with St. John's Church, St. Peter's Church, St. Paul's

Abbey An abbey is a type of monastery used by members of a religious order under the governance of an abbot or abbess. Abbeys provide a complex of buildings and land for religious activities, work, and housing of Christian monks and nuns. The conce ...

, and St. Mary's Church as the north, east, south, and west extremities respectively. All of the churches date from the Middle Ages, but the term ''kerkenkruis'' is younger. It is uncertain whether forming a cross was accidental or intentional.

External links

David Winter, "Marking the City for Christ: Utrecht’s kerkenkruis"

Charlotte J.C. Broer, "Het Utrechts kerkenkruis: feit of fictie?"
Architecture in the Netherlands * Dutch words and phrases {{Netherlands-hist-stub