Abbenbroek (ZH): reformed church
The church of Abbenbroek
dates back to the 13th century, when a one-aisled church was built.
Early 14th century this church was enlarged with the current choir, a
rectangular building in an early Gothic style. This early Gothic
variant is closely related to the Flemish Schelde Gothic style but is
also sometimes referred to as Romanogothic. Most likely, both the shape
and the style of the choir are the result of the influence of the
cistercian abbey Ter Doest in Flanders. Of special interest is the
decoration of the back wall with niches. The segmented arch, the shape
of which is in literature sometimes called clover-shaped, could refer
to ties with the counts of Holland. Similar arches are found at the
Hall of Knights in Den Haag and the old churches of Loosduinen and
Noordwijk. The north side of the choir is decorated with a frieze at
the top.
The tower was built in the first half of the 15th century. At the end
of that century it was heightened, probably to fit with the new nave,
which is higher than the old one. At some point the tower was shortened
again, although part of the late-15th century segment remains.
The nave has side-aisles flanking the sides of the tower. The
side-aisles each consist of five traves, each with a pointed gable and
a seperate roof square on the axis of the main aisle. In 1747 a storm
destroyed the gables of the south aisle. They were rebuilt as part of a
restoration in 1930-1933.
