Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

Beautiful reconstruction church with roof turret.

According to the church yearbook, the congregation of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel was founded on 28 June 1925. But it had already been happening for several years that the church council of Moerkapelle had been holding services in Nieuwerkerk. The reason is that there were a few in Nieuwerkerk and Ouderkerk aan den IJssel who wanted to join the old truth, but for whom the distance was too great to join Gouda, Moerkapelle, Rotterdam or Berkenwoude. There was also no Reformed Congregation in Capelle. The first service was held on Ascension Day 1919. At first, elders from Moerkapelle came to read, while Rev. Overduin catechised. But in 1920, an elder and a deacon were confirmed for the Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel branch. On 28 June 1925, the Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel branch became independent. Initially, church was held in a cleaned-up carriage factory. But in 1927 a piece of land could be bought for f. 250,-. The church was built on it, where the congregation still meets today. The total construction costs amounted to f. 8,000,-. The location was chosen between Nieuwerkerk and Ouderkerk, because in those early days a relatively large number of members came from Ouderkerk. The church still stands in a quiet place outside the village centre. In the thirties the church council was in dire straits. In order to build the church the congregation had had to borrow a lot of money, in the form of bonds. The church council was therefore no longer able to repay, and even saw no chance to pay interest for a year. On the advice of Rev. A. van Stuijvenberg, the consultant at the time, a seat fee was introduced: f. 2.50 per year. Nevertheless, the first 25 years of the congregation's existence were a time of steady growth. In 1925 it started with 28 professing members and 36 baptized members, together 64; in 1949 there were 203. Then a slow decline followed, so that in 1983 the congregation had dropped to 148 professing members and baptized members. Since then the number of members has been rising again, so that the latest yearbook mentions 89 professing members and 101 baptized members.

Reformed Church, sober, stately house of worship, basic shape a similar cross 1657-1658 after a design by Daniel Stalpert. Organ with main work and lower positive, made in 1824 by J. and JMW Batz. Bell tower with clock by François and Pieter Hemony, 1655, diam. 70.5 cm. Mechanical tower clockwork, circa 1920.

Simple hall church without a tower.

Reformed Church, built in 1773-1775 in the shape of a Greek cross, designed by the Amsterdam city architect JE de Wit. Beautiful lead-covered tower. Internal wooden barrel vaults. Furniture (pulpit, pew) from the 17th and 18th centuries. Organ with main work, upper work and pedal, made in 1865 by Flaes and Brünjes (Amsterdam). Bell frame with clock by Cornelius van Ammeroy, 1603, diam. 118.1 cm. Mechanical tower clock, circa 1880.

Dutch Reformed Church. Hall church with three-sided closure (1660) and high roof, on the west side against a pointed gable and with a six-sided dome tower. Baroque natural stone gate in the long facade on the street with heavy cornice on volute consoles and on the imposts under the arch: Anno 1660. Pulpit, baptismal fence and Communion table (17th century); lectern at the pulpit 1742. Bell tower with the sound of two bells by P. van Trier, 1661, respectively diam. 73 cm. and 64 cm. Mechanical wrought iron tower clock, later fitted with electric winding.

Dutch Reformed CHURCH built in 1853 in neoclassical style. Foundation stone in the front facade: 'Founded 1853. Churchwardens Roelof Hagting, Remmelt Haange, Lens Beyring'. The church was restored in 1975 by order of the church council by the Bureau Monumentenzorg of the province of Drenthe. Among other things, the (half-) columns in the Doric order and a new chandelier were installed. Worth mentioning is the cemetery behind the church; however, this is of local importance.

The church is a single-nave brick building (plastered) with a high choir. (XV). In 1832 the church was significantly restored with the help of the States of Utrecht and completely restored again in 1950. Internal pulpit 18th century, a copper lectern, a copper chandelier 17th century. The organ front is from 1915. On the west wall (wooden partition between church and consistory) are two inscriptions, namely the Ten Commandments and the Twelve Articles of Faith, painted in 1771 by P. Landzaat. On a balcony under the organ two texts between which a dial of the 19th century clock. In the consistory a memorial board circa 1621. Bell tower with clock by G. Schimmel, 1682, diam. 56.5 cm. Mechanical tower clock, B. Eijsbouts, circa 1927, electric winding.

Reformed church. 19th century hall building with mansard roof. Inventory. Single manual organ. made in 1879 by HG Holtgrave.

Expansion 2005. The Old Reformed Church also struggles with a lack of space. Nothing changes at the front. Plans are made to build new buildings at the back, so that the current consistory can be incorporated into the church.