Kerk Hornhuizen
In the north of the province lies the village of Hornhuizen. Right in the centre of the village stands a beautiful church with a brightly coloured spire and a fascinating history.
Have a look now
The current church in Hornhuizen is not the first church to have stood on this site. A medieval church once stood here, but it was destroyed in a fire in 1247. The church was subsequently rebuilt, and the tower was later fitted with a new roof and a brightly coloured spire. At the time, the tower served as a beacon for shipping on the Wadden Sea. During recent restoration work on the church, the dome-shaped lantern tower was repainted in its original colour scheme. Thanks to this restoration, the tower has also regained its function as a beacon for shipping. The tower porch was designed by the design collective Studio Job. In doing so, they left the walls unpainted in one spot: a glass panel there protects old graffiti, including a message from French soldiers who were stationed in the village in 1810.
The church…
The current church in Hornhuizen is not the first church to have stood on this site. A medieval church once stood here, but it was destroyed in a fire in 1247. The church was subsequently rebuilt, and the tower was later fitted with a new roof and a brightly coloured spire. At the time, the tower served as a beacon for shipping on the Wadden Sea. During recent restoration work on the church, the dome-shaped lantern tower was repainted in its original colour scheme. Thanks to this restoration, the tower has also regained its function as a beacon for shipping. The tower porch was designed by the design collective Studio Job. In doing so, they left the walls unpainted in one spot: a glass panel there protects old graffiti, including a message from French soldiers who were stationed in the village in 1810.
The church owns a remarkable Bible: an original seventeenth-century Statenbijbel dating from 1682. It is not a plain copy, but a beautifully designed book featuring detailed maps and ornate capitals (the capital letters with which the chapters begin). Its size is also impressive. The Bible measures 45 x 30 centimetres, is 11.5 centimetres thick and weighs over 7.5 kilograms.
Nowadays, the church is mainly used as Hornhuizen’s village hall and as a venue for weddings and funerals. The church is also regularly used for exhibitions, and the tower has been converted into a viewpoint overlooking the countryside. As a visitor, you can simply walk straight into the church. When the church is closed, the key can be collected from Galerie Gewaagd , amongst other places.