De Wijngaard

Neo-Gothic church with cathedral allure, and with unique high tower, the highest church tower in Friesland and also one of the highest neo-Gothic church towers in our country. Main work of Pierre Cuypers (1827 - 1921). One of the 2 largest church buildings designed by him, which still exist; the other is the St. Vitus Church in Hilversum (the St. Willibrordus Church in Amsterdam, demolished in 1970 - 1971, and the St. Barbara Cathedral in Breda, demolished 1969 - 1970, were 2 other "largest churches" by Pierre Cuypers).

This building is hidden in an inner courtyard between the Oosterkade and the Tweebaksmarkt, out of sight of the public road. In 1850, the reformed community had this simple church built for holding 'Bible readings for the needy'. In common parlance, this church was therefore also called the Poor Church or the Skippers Church, because many skippers from the Oosterkade went to this church.

Interesting early modern complex, without a tower.