Uitwierde Church and Tower

A beautiful village with a Waterstaat church built in 1839 in the middle. So called because of the financial support from the government with the approval and supervision of Rijkswaterstaat.

The detached medieval tower has been owned by the Oude Groninger Kerken Foundation since 1971. The church was also handed over in 2022. The sober church building dates from 1839. The previous building was badly damaged in 1814 by the French occupation. The church was restored but replaced a little later. During the Second World War, this church also suffered serious damage, which was permanently repaired in 1948. The tower dates from the 13th century and has been part of the Landmark Towers since 2011. Instead, a staircase designed by Onix adorns the inside of the tower. From the new balcony at the back you have a view of the Wadden Sea.

In Uitwierde there is a church hall and tower, both of which you can view. I think it's great that the Groninger Churches Foundation opens the churches to visitors.
During the siege of Delfzijl, the original church building suffered significant damage by the plundering French troops. It was replaced in 1839 by the current church hall, which is separate from the tower. There is a Van Dam organ in the church.
The tower is a beautiful vantage point. Inside, a special staircase was built by Groningen architect Onix. Really surprisingly done! An experience! The path in the Uitwierde tower won a Dutch Design Award in 2013. The bells of the tower all showed a different time.
There used to be a moat around the church and tower, now there is a walking path.