De Olijftak

De Olijftak is a Protestant church located in the center of Zoetermeer, a city in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The church is situated at Antigoneschouw 31, 2726 KD Zoetermeer, Netherlands.

The history of De Olijftak dates back to 1975 when it was built as a replacement for an older church in Zoetermeer. The new church was designed to accommodate the growing population of the city and provide a modern worship space for the Protestant community.

Architecture

De Olijftak is a modern Protestant church with a unique design. The building features a striking bell tower that stands at approximately 40 meters (131 feet) tall. The interior of the church is characterized by a large nave, a choir, and several confessionals.

1. The large nave is suitable for large congregations and features a flat ceiling with a subtle curve.
2. The choir area is located at the front of the church, providing an intimate space for worship and musical performances.

One of the most notable features of De Olijftak is its architecture, which includes a canopy structure that symbolizes a biblical tent. The ground plan of the church hall is a cube, cut off to the east. The morning light falls into the building through the skylight.

Name and Symbolism

The church's name refers to the story of Noah's ark in the Bible, Genesis chapter 8, verses 6-12. The water receded more and more, and a dove released by Noah returned with a green olive branch in its beak.

• De Olijftak was initially used by the Protestant Parish of Zoetermeer-Noord.
• The parish arose from two church communities: the Reformed Church and the Gereformeerde Kerk van Zoetermeer.
• The reformed congregations Ichthuskerk-West, Buytenwegh de Leyens, and Seghwaert-Noordhove-Oosterheem merged into this parish.

In 2008/2009, extensive maintenance was carried out on the church, including several necessary renovations. In 2011, it became known that De Olijftak would be sold and a new church built in the Oosterheem district.

Closure and Reuse

De Olijftak was definitively closed on Sunday, March 30, 2014. The entire parish of Zoetermeer-Noord, including De Olijftak, has been rebuilt into Ichthuskerk at Parkdreef, which is now the neighborhood church.

• The church building was sold to the Chinese Evangelical Church "Hope, Faith and Love" and began operating in January 2016.
• The attached pastor's residence was sold to a private individual many years earlier.