Grote Kerk
Monster, NL
For centuries, the tower of Monster was a familiar landmark for sailors who came into sight of the coastline. The fact that the restoration of the tower in 1662 was subsidized by the Admiralty of Rotterdam, among others, indicates the importance of the tower for shipping. Skippers and helmsmen, "living in the village of Heijde" (Ter Heijde), submitted a request to the municipal authorities of Monster in 1734. They wanted the tower not to be demolished, but to be preserved as a beacon when entering the Maas from the sea. If the tower were no longer there, all sea charts would have to be remade, according to the skippers. The tower was preserved. During a storm in 2019, no one was allowed to walk past the tower of Monster. Parts of the scaffolding, which were around the tower for a restoration, had come loose due to the wind. The fire brigade had cordoned off the area. The tower is now restored and the scaffolding has been cleared away. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.