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Architects: E. Reitsma (1892-1976)

Egbert Reitsma was born in Ulrum on January 19th 1892 as the son of L. Reitsma, a carpenter and contractor who also worked as an architect. The family belonged to the calvinist Gereformeerde denomination, for whom father Reitsma built a church in Ulrum in 1901. Egbert dropped out of school when he was 16 years old to work for his father. Like his father, Egbert at first became a carpenter and a contractor, but he was also trained by architect L. Drewes for six months. For his further education he attended the Academie Minera art school in Groningen, followed in ca. 1910 by an internship with architect J. London in Hilversum. From 1917 until 1920 he was employed by architect W. Kromhout in Rotterdam, where he was further trained as an architect. Although Kromhout offered him a full partnership, in 1920 Reitsma moved back to Ulrum to work for his father. That same year he married and moved to Groningen, where he set up his own architect's office and joined the artist collective De Ploeg. One of his earliest assignments was for a mansion in Haren, a building in Expressionist style built in 1923. This was soon followed by his first church assignment, for Kollum.

Reitsma designed ca. 40 churches, mostly for his own denomination, as well as profane buildings and worked mostly in the north-eastern part of the country. Until ca. 1930 he designed in an Expressionist style, related to the Amsterdam School. The church in Andijk is a highlight of this period. A distinctive feature of his churches in this period is the use of irregular shaped bricks.
After that, his work was influenced by the architecture of W.M. Dudok. An important work in this period is the sanatorium in Zuidlaren. A couple of years before the Second World War Reitsma started to use a style related to that of the traditionalist Delft School. During the first years of the German occupation Reitsma had several assignments, but for most of the war he temporarily quit architecture and started painting. During fighting in 1945 his house was destroyed, and so was his archive. After the war he continued working in Traditionalist style, but later combined it with Functionalist elements. In 1950 his son L.H. Reitsma became his companion and their churches became more Functionalist in style. Reitsma retired in 1967 and died on the 19th of June 1976 in his private house in Glimmen (Gr).

Reitsma had a cousin also named E. Reitsma, who was an architect in Deventer (Ov) and designed several churches as well in the 1950's.

The following list covers Reitsma's churches only. It's possibly incomplete.

 
1924 Kollum (Fr): Gereformeerde kerk

 

 

 

 

Cruciform church in Expressionist style. Reitsma's first church.

 
 
1924 Kollumerzwaag (Fr): Gereformeerde kerk

Cruciform church in moderate Expressionist style.

 
1926 Groningen (Gr): Gereformeerde Parklaankerk

Church in Expressionist style. Demolished in 1989.
 

1927 Renkum (G): Gereformeerde kerk

 

 

 

Church in Expressionist style. Tower similar to the one in Kollum.

 

1927 Bilthoven (U): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Expressionist style with tall roof. Enlarged beyond recognition in 1939 by an architect Lengkeek.
 

1927-1928 Appingedam (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Expressionist style.

 

1928 Weesp (NH): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in rich Expressionist style. Destroyed by fire in 1968.
 

1930 Andijk (NH): Gereformeerde kerk

 

 

 

Large church in richly ornamented  Expressionist style.

 

1931 Ijmuiden (NH): Gereformeerde kerk

Demolished in 1944 by order of the German army.
 
1931 Rijnsburg (ZH): Gereformeerde kerk

Temporary church, built out of wood, with turret at the front. Demolished in 1956. 
 

1931 Leeuwarden (Fr): Gereformeerde Pelikaankerk

 

 

 

 

Large church in a style inspired by the work of W.M. Dudok.

  
 

1937-1938 Bedum (Gr): Gereformeerde Noorderkerk

 

 

 

Cruciform centralizing church in Traditionalist style.

  
 
1942 Holten (Ov): enlargement Gereformeerde kerk

Addition of an arm and a tower in Traditionalist style.
 

1949-1950 Glimmen (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk

Straight aisleless church in Traditionalist style.

 

1950 Dinteloord (NB): Gereformeerde kerk

Cruciform church in Traditionalist style, with short tower at the front.

 

1950 Hulshorst (G): reformed chapel

Church in Traditionalist style.

 

1953 Onnen (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Traditionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1955-1956 Groningen (Gr): Gereformeerde Goede Herderkerk

Church in combined Traditionalist and Functionalist styles. Designed in conjunction with K. Sandburg.
 

1955 Geldermalsen (G): Gereformeerde kerk

Octagonal centralizing church in combined Traditionalist and Functionalist styles.
 

1955-1956 Apeldoorn (G): Chr. Gereformeerde Samuelkerk

 

 

Church in combined Traditionalist and Functionalist styles.
 

1958 Groningen (Gr): Gereformeerde Stadsparkkerk

Octagonal centralizing church in Functionalist style.
 

1957-1958 Grootegast (Gr): Gereformeerde Goede Herderkerk

Octagonal centralizing church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1958 Scheemda (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk

Octagonal centralizing church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1959 Sebaldeburen (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Traditionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma. Now a house.
 

1960 Eelde-Paterswolde (Dr): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma. Bell-gable built of irregular pieces of natural stone.
 

1961 Borger (Dr): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1960-1962 Leeuwarden (Fr): Gereformeerde Salvatorkerk

Church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1961-1963 Doezum (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk

Church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1964-1965 Loppersum (Gr): Gereformeerde kerk Hij is onze Vrede

Octagonal centralizing church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1966 Mijdrecht (U): church Gereformeerde Gemeenten

No details.
 

1967 Goor (Ov): Gereformeerde Ontmoetingskerk

Church in Functionalist style.
 

1967 Maartensdijk (U): Gereformeerde kerk

 

 

Church in Functionalist style. Designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.
 

1965-1969 Hoogezand (Gr): Gereformeerde Vredekerk

Church in Functionalist style. Reitsma's last completed work, designed in conjunction with L.H. Reitsma.

 
 

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