Former Dutch Reformed Church in Schardam

The former Dutch Reformed Church, now a private residential home.. ."The first worship service in the former Reformed Church in the Dutch town of Schardam was held in 1662, the last in 1968. In the 1970s, the current residents, the artist couple Mantje, restored the church. The church is now their home and studio. The building, baptismal gate, lectern for the pastors, two candlesticks and the pulpit fall under the national monument number of the church. The tower, a ridge turret, is a separate national monument. This also includes the clockwork and the loud bell from 1497...History:.A church building in the village of Schardam was first mentioned in 1499. It was a late Gothic church. The tower of the church may have also functioned as a beacon for the ships on the Zuiderzee. In 1662 the church was replaced by the current one. The ridge turret on the current church is not original, until 1860 a small church tower stood on that spot. The church bell in the roof ridge is made by Geert van Wou, he also has the church bell of the church of Oosthuizen to his name...After the last service in 1968, the church became vacant. In 1971 the church was declared a national monument. Two years later, the artist couple Mantje bought the church with the intention of turning it into a living and studio space. The couple has restored the church in phases. A large number of roof tiles were gone and almost all windows were broken. A large part of the roof boarding also had to be replaced...The couple bought the church in 1973, without a roof rider. In the French period, many church towers became the property of the civil municipalities, including the church tower of the church of Schardam. The old roof ridge was replaced in 2009 due to dilapidation. The church bell from 1497 has also been preserved this time" [Source: Wikipedia] ..Schardam, West-Friesland, North-Holland, Netherlands.