Køge Church or Church of Saint Nicolas, Køge

St. Nicholas Church in Køge is dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers, St. Nicholas. The church, like many other churches, was built in several stages. The church is located just north of the town square with the west gable facing Kirkestræde and the east gable facing Nørregade.

As soon as the town acquired the rights of a borough, its citizens began to build a church, which has now almost completely disappeared. The remains of the walls between the tower and the nave of the present church, dating from 1250-1300, probably date from this first church. Foundation remains show that it was 7 m wide, 17 m long and had a choir of at least 8 m.

Already in the 14th century, the church began to be extended. The first part of the square tower, with the same width as the original church, is believed to have been built in 1324. The tower was built with 4 storeys, with the 5th storey being added around 1450, bringing the tower to a height of 43 m. The east side of the tower's upper storey is provided with a brick nave, which served as a lighthouse.

Around 1400, work began on a new extension to the church which, during the early part of this century, took on much the appearance it has today. First the new choir was built facing Nørregade, then the old church was demolished and the new three-nave church was built up to the tower. The extension increased the church's area from 175 square metres to about 1400 square metres.