Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

Dutch Reformed Church. Originally a 13th century single-nave church, but significantly modified. Inventory: 18th century pulpit, wrought iron baptismal font holder. Originally a single-manual organ made in 1631 by A. Verbeeck for the Pepergasthuiskerk in Groningen. In 1697 it was rebuilt by Arp Schnitger and fitted with a free pedal. The Rugwerk was added in 1757 by AA Hinsz. In 1862 the organ was placed in Peize by P. van Oeckelen. Organ case 1785, instrument AA Hinsz.

It is not known when a church first stood on this site, but it is known that there was a parish in Westerblokker around 1513. It is not possible to say with 100% certainty what style the church had, but on the basis of several drawings and engravings it can be stated that the church at least has stylistic features of a late Gothic church from the first quarter of the 16th century. This church, more precisely the nave, was demolished in 1830 due to dilapidation. The new nave was widened in 1864 at the height of the two easternmost bays and the choir enclosure. The current cast iron windows also date from that renovation. In 1883 the, also, cast iron entrance and ornamental gates were added. The pillars of the gate on the Westerblokker show the year 1883.

The church of Biggekerke is known to have been founded before 1247 as a daughter church of the Westmonster church in Middelburg. Until 1453, there were even two pastors' positions attached to it. During the Reformation, it also caused quite a stir here. The pastor at the time, Bernard Donder, was a convinced Calvinist and renounced the Roman Catholic church in 1566. Since then, he has also preached the Reformation in Biggekerke, something for which he had to pay with imprisonment. After being released and imprisoned several times, he fled to England or Germany. After this, a period began in which people could only meet secretly and in small numbers, in someone's house. But then, when Middelburg declared itself loyal to Orange, the Reformation could develop. At that time, there was still the problem that there were too few pastors, but in 1583, the classis of Walcheren assigned the first pastor to Biggekerke, the Rev. J. van Aecken.

Dutch Reformed Church. Late Gothic village church from the first half of the 16th century, consisting of a single-aisled nave with wooden bell tower (1810) and a three-bay deep, narrower choir with three-sided closure. West tower demolished in 1810. Windows with brick tracery; wooden barrel vaults with tie beams and corbels, the supporting stones of which have carved coats of arms. Restored 1956-1958. The inventory includes: simple pulpit, 17th century. with copper lectern and two candle holders; baptismal fence with twisted copper baptismal arch, crowned by the village coat of arms; carved choir fence, 17th century, with arched panels, balusters and a raised central section with pediment in the parapet; two lords' pews with canopies, in which coats of arms, the most beautiful dated 1662; a lords' pew without canopies, decorated with arched panels in the choir, 17th century; in the choir closure a richly carved epitaph for WH van Steenbergh, 1788; polychrome Ten Commandments board, 17th century; organ front from 1869; a copper chandelier, circa 1700; several tombstones, 16th and 17th century. Mechanical tower clock, Van Bergen, electric winding. A stone sundial is mounted in a buttress of the church.

Historic village church with tower. The nave dates from the 16th century. The church was renovated by Ir. Jos.Th.J. Cuypers in 1901-1904. The interior was restored again in 1972-1975.

Historic village church with tower. Tower 1400. The renovation and restoration of the interior of the PKN (former Dutch Reformed) village church was completed in the spring of 2007. There is now finally real heating in the church. It is hoped to give the church a multi-functional destination. The restoration of the exterior will start soon. Nickname: Bridge Church.

Dutch Reformed Church. Neoclassical facade decorated with natural stone pilasters, low plastered tower. Bell tower with clock by J. Dop, 1651, diam. 86.5 cm.

Historic village church with tower, formerly dedicated to St. Willibrordus. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

Dutch Reformed Church in Reeuwijk (Dorp) from 1871. Replaced an older church. Simple hall church with built-in front tower in sober eclectic forms.

The village church was also the first 'real' church in Santpoort in terms of size. Dutch Reformed, now PKN. Nowadays the church also offers shelter to all kinds of cultural activities. The first version of the village church dates from 1844. A slender and charming building that was created on the initiative of the miller. In 1916 the church burned down. The story goes that a drunken homeless person, who was looking for shelter from the cold, accidentally knocked over one of the two stoves, after which the church caught fire. There was almost nothing left. A year later, in 1917, the current church could be consecrated on the same spot. With money from the insurance, collections and generous gifts from wealthy Santpoorters from North and South. The contours of the burnt down church were adopted: a hall church with a tower in the middle, the roofs covered with slates. But the style that the Bloemendaal architects J. Mulder and JA van Asdonk gave the building was no longer light and charming but solid, quasi-Romanesque. The church got a sturdy square tower with a matching spire and semi-circular arch spans of windows, sound holes and portal. Funny thing is that the clock, which at that time still served as a watch for ordinary people, is not placed in the middle of the tower but on a corner.