The Jacobus de Meerderekerk

The Jacobus de Meerderekerk is one of the oldest churches in the region, dating back to the 13th century. Its Gothic-Renaissance style architecture features a unique blend of Romanesque and Baroque elements, with a striking tower being one of its most distinctive features.

As an active place of worship for the Protestant community in Uithuizen, regular services are held throughout the year. Visitors can explore the church and its surroundings during opening hours, which typically coincide with mass times or special events.

• The Jacobus de Meerderekerk is known for its stunning stained-glass windows, intricate carvings, and beautiful frescoes adorning its walls. Its peaceful atmosphere and serene ambiance make it a popular spot for contemplation and relaxation.

1. The church's history dates back to the mid-17th century, when the original Dionysius kerk of Uithuizen became Protestant after the reductie of Groningen. The apostle Jacobus de Meerdere was then appointed as the patron saint of the Roman Catholic statie of Uithuizen established in 1606.
2. In 1710, a new church building was constructed to replace the original, and it underwent expansions in 1778 and 1825. By around 1860, a new Jacobus de Meerderekerk was built by architect J.F. Scheepers (1818-1886) several hundred meters west of the old church on the Hoofdstraat.
3. This Jacobus de Meerderekerk is notable for being the first neo-Gothic church in the province of Groningen, featuring a early variant of neo-Gothic architecture with ribbed vaults. The church contains reliefs made in the 1880s depicting the Stations of the Cross, as well as a 16th-century Golgotha relief from sandstone.
4. This relief is believed to have originated from the cloistered monastery of Kloosterwijtwerd destroyed by the Spanish. In 1861, a bell with the inscription "by centen gathered from great and small I call out to church and angelus/been" was installed in the tower. However, this bell was looted during World War II by the Germans.
5. To replace it, two new bells were placed in its stead.