Oosterkerk, Groningen

Oosterkerk
Oosterkerk
Map
53°13′36″N 6°34′21″E / 53.22667°N 6.57250°E / 53.22667; 6.57250
LocationE. Thomassen à Thuessinklaan 1, Groningen, Groningen
CountryNetherlands
DenominationDutch Reformed Churches
Websitewww.groningenoost.nl
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Heritage designationRijksmonument (nr. 483654)
Architect(s)Kuiler & Drewes
StyleBrick Expressionism, Amsterdam School
Years built1927–1929
Specifications
Capacity1,116

The Oosterkerk (English: Eastern Church) is a reformed church from 1929 in the Dutch city of Groningen. It is located in the Oosterparkbuurt, on the corner of the E. Thomassen à Thuessinklaan and the S.S. Rosensteinlaan.

Description

The church is a recognized rijksmonument,[1] designed by the Groningen architects Jan Kuiler and Lucas Drewes. They built the Noorderkerk in 1920 as well, also in Groningen. The duo designed an expressionist building, inspired by the style of the Amsterdam School.[2]

The church has a polygonal (fan-shaped) floor plan, with the main entrance facing the corner of the S.S. Rosensteinlaan and the E. Thomassen à Thuessinklaan, on the edge of the Oosterparkwijk. The sexton's house is located on the E. Thomassen à Thuessinklaan and the parsonage on the S.S. Rosensteinlaan.

There are 1,116 seats, of which 780 are downstairs and 336 on the galleries. The organ was installed in 1929 by the organ builders Valckx & Van Kouteren, modified several times in the meantime, and restored in 2008 by Mense Ruiter. The stained glass windows were restored in 1990.[3]

The church has been used for reformed church services since 1929. Between 1999 and 2002, the building was shared by the Reformed Church and the Reformed Church (liberated). Since 2002, it has been used only by the latter denomination,[4] which merged into the Dutch Reformed Churches in 2023. The church is also used by a community of Eritrean refugees since 2017. A congregation of the Eritrean Orthodox Church gathers in the church three Saturdays a month.[5]

In the 1980s, the church was also used as a rehearsal space by the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra.

  • Vestibule
    Vestibule
  • Interior
    Interior
  • Organ
    Organ
  • Stained glass
    Stained glass

References

  1. ^ "E. Thomassen à Thuessinklaan 1, 9713 JP te Groningen". Rijksmonumentenregister (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  2. ^ Jong, Gerrit, de; Ploeg, Kees, van der (1993). "Gereformeerde kerken in de provincie Groningen, deel 1" (PDF). Groninger Kerken (in Dutch). 10 (3): 50–69.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Hissink, Willemijn (30 July 2018). "Groningen, Oosterkerk (Gereformeerd Vrijgemaakt)". Orgelsite (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  4. ^ Werff, Egbert, van der; Overbeek, Rita; Havinga, Bea (2005). Van Anna Varwers Convent tot Zuiderkerk. Gasthuizen & Godshuizen in Groningen (in Dutch). Groningen: Studio van Stralen. ISBN 9077957030.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Beste Ton van PVV Groningen, je bent zelf bent zelf een patiënt" [Dear Ton of PVV Groningen, you are a patient yourself]. Sikkom (in Dutch). 25 January 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
Dutch Rijksmonument 483654

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