ARCHITECTUURGIDS.NL / ARCHITECTUREGUIDE.NL

WALLOON CHURCH

J. VERHEUL DZN., J. VAN WIJNGAARDEN, 1923-1925, Schiedamse Vest 190/Pierre Baylestraat, Rotterdam

ARCHITECT(URAL OFFICE):
Jan Verheul Dzn.
Jozea van Wijngaarden

ARTIST:
Willem Gispen

BUILDING TYPE:
Religious buildings


RELATED BUILDINGS:
Foreign Church Route

Rotterdam has long been home to the widest variety of foreign religious denominations and churches. After the Reformation, the Netherlands was in vogue because of the freedom of religion enjoyed there. Rotterdam's Scottish and Walloon religious communities derive from those times. Many seafarers' churches would follow later. Often exotic structures, these have been welcomed by the city as an enrichment. This is not the case with the still contested construction of mosques for the growing Muslim community. Many exceptional churches are located on a route along Schiedamse Vest and Westzeedijk. The Walloon Church on Schiedamse Vest dates from before the war. It is one of the few remaining buildings by the well-regarded Rotterdam architect J. Verheul. Its interior contains ironwork by W.H. Gispen. Opposite it is the https://www.architectureguide.nl/project/item/prj_id/1977" class="inline_link">Scots Church. Built in traditionalist style by the architect M.C.A. Meischke, it replaced its predecessor at Vasteland which had been destroyed during the 1940 bombing raid.