The church is located on the northernmost hill of the Hondsrug; the Noordes or Tie (Thye).

The first plans date from 1608, but due to other priorities and financial problems, the new fortifications were not completed until 1624.

In 1634, architect Johan Isenbrants, commissioned by the city council, designated part of the cemetery for the construction of a future church building.

It is the first in Groningen built for Protestant worship (the Martinikerk and the Der Aa-kerk were originally Catholic churches).

[1] The organ in the Nieuwe Kerk was built in 1831 by Johannes Wilhelmus Timpe based on a design drawing by Petrus van Oeckelen.