The Medieval Church of Zweeloo, admired by Vincent van Gogh
The 'Van Gogh church' in Zweeloo was built in the second half of the 13th century, replacing a wooden church that dated from the 12th century. Of course, renovations have taken place over the centuries. Windows have been added to get more light, but in such a way that the church has retained its medieval appearance. It is located on an elevation, a little outside the village of Zweeloo. This somewhat eccentric location is related to the fact that the inhabitants of Oosterhesselen, Noord- and Zuid-Sleen also worshiped in Zweeloo at the time.
Vincent van Gogh and Zweeloo
On November 1, 1883, Van Gogh made a day trip from New Amsterdam / Veenoord in an open cart to Zweeloo, hoping to meet Liebermann and other painters there. To his disappointment he did not meet them, but he did make a drawing of the little church in Zweeloo and of the apple orchard that Liebermann had also immortalized. In a letter to his brother Theo, Vincent wrote about what he saw that day, when he drove into Zweeloo at six o'clock in the morning: "... if I can't be here forever, I would rather not have seen it."