Hoogwoud (NH): reformed church

The reformed church of Hoogwoud is a one-aisled building in Gothic style. Although this style suggests that the church is older, it was in fact built after a hurricane destroyed its predecessor in 1674. Only the tower is older and was built shortly after 1472. This part of the church, or at least its lower two segments, survived the storm. The actual church was beyond repair and had to be replaced. A new church was designed by Thijs Janszoon, a mason from De Rijp. Work started in 1680. Although the Gothic style had been gradually replaced by other styles ever since the Reformation, there are several originally protestant churches in this region which can be classified as Gothic. In this case, the church could have been modelled after its originally catholic predecessor and has a polygonal choir. The tower was destroyed by fire in 1886. After the fire the lower two segments were clad with a new layer of bricks while the third segment was added. The balustrade on top is a common feature of medieval church towers in this region and might be a reconstruction.