Hervormde Kerk
Rijswijk, NL
The church of Rijswijk is mentioned in 1369 when Willem VI van Horne, Lord of Altena, gives goods in fief to Vastraet van Giessen, including the ferry of Andel that lies between "Veenregraven" and the church of Rijswijk. From the church visitations of Bishop Metsius it can be concluded that the church is dedicated to St. Stephanus. Historians estimate this church to be very old. During research and excavations, the foundations of a tuff stone hall church from around 1100 were exposed, with a tower on the west side. This old church must have been badly damaged by the many floods of the Maas in the middle of the 13th century. The restoration will have taken place around 1265, after the church hill was first raised considerably. The battle against the water appears to be an eternal one for the church. After repairs were made with great difficulty in the 16th century, the old church succumbed during the flood of 1809. The church was demolished down to its tuff foundation. Much later, a new church was built on the same site, of which the following was written in the middle of the 19th century: "The church stands outside the dike in the Rotgans. It is old and not very large and has a long tower, flat-roofed on top, but is not equipped with an organ. The choir has completely collapsed, except for a few pieces of dilapidated masonry."