Oosterkerk, Gothic church in Hoorn, Netherlands.
The Oosterkerk is a Gothic church with a single nave arranged in cruciform plan and a tower at the center crossing. Its interior displays a sandstone entrance portal on the north wall alongside a 17th-century pulpit and an organ case from 1764.
Construction began in 1519, and the building later transitioned from Catholic to Dutch Reformed use. A major renovation directed by architect Hendrick de Keyser in 1616 fundamentally reshaped its character and function.
The name reflects its eastern position in the medieval town layout. Visitors experience it today as a gathering place where stained glass and music create a sense of community that extends beyond religious practice alone.
The building sits centrally in Hoorn and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors should know it functions mainly as a venue for concerts, weddings, and community gatherings rather than regular worship.
The organ was built by Johan Heinrich Hartmann Bätz and remains the only known work by this craftsman in North Holland. It underwent careful restoration in 1982 and preserves 18th-century craftsmanship in playable condition.
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