Andreaskerk (Old Church) Katwijk aan Zee

This is an interesting church. It is not often open but if you have a chance have a look inside. The past fishing village is everywhere to see. The church is Hervormde

The Nieuwe Kerk ("New Church") in Katwijk, the Netherlands, is the oldest and best known work of the architect H.J. Jesse (1860–1943). It was built to replace the nearby Andreaskerk, which had become too small. Plans for building a new church were first considered in 1850. The search for a suitable location for the church began in 1883. The church authorities held a design contest, and about 53 designs were sent in. They chose the design of H.J. Jesse. Construction started in 1885, with the first stone being laid by the Baroness Van Wassenaer van Catwijck. The construction took two years, and the new church was opened in 1887. It is now a state monument.

Jesse designed a broad cross-shaped church with 1500 seats. The capacity was later extended to 2000 seats. The building consists of two wide, short aisles and a long transept. The church tower is approximately 51 meters high.

The Andreas Church in Katwijk aan Zee, in the Dutch province of South Holland, is right on the Boulevard. The church is named after the apostle Andrew, who was also the patron saint of fishermen. The coat of arms of the municipality of Katwijk is an azure blue Andrew's cross on a silver background. Locally, the church is also known as the Oude Kerk, and to a greater extent as the Witte Kerk. The organ is a Van den Heuvel organ. The church has 1400 seats and is now part of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (Dutch Reformed).

The church was built around 1460, when Katwijk aan Zee became an independent parish, as a cruciform church with a three-aisled nave. The church, which was dedicated to Saint Andrew, was plundered by the Beggars on April 5 and May 24, 1571. One of them Jacob van Billeken was captured on June 23 or 24, interrogated and hanged in the dunes of Katwijk. Later, during the Siege of Leiden, the roof and the upper part of the walls of the church were destroyed. The southern nave was probably rebuilt between 1580 and 1590. The clock dates from 1594.

Because the Nieuwe Kerk was built on the Voorstraat in 1887, the Oude Kerk was sold in 1890 for 6000 guilders. Until 1921, the building served as a shipping company shed for N.V. Rederij Katwijk, which owned a number of barges. The building served as a warehouse for ship supplies and salt. Nets were also repaired by a team of modellers. This came to an end, because the (slow) barges were replaced by (faster) luggers, which could not lie on the beach. In 1921 the building was bought back for 45,000 guilders. The renovation was completed on February 27, 1924 and the church was once again in use.

During the Second World War, the Ortskommandant had ordered the church and the houses along the boulevard to be demolished. A clever contractor saved the building. He only demolished the tower to roof height and considered the job done. The interior (including the organ) had already been brought to safety. In 1952 the tower was restored, but not exactly the same as before.

Source: Wikipedia