The Dutch Reformed Church of Hierden originated from a school founded in 1659, which also served as a meeting hall for the Gospels. In 1741, this building was elevated to a church. In 1790 and 1827, the building underwent expansion, making way for the current building in 1851. The tower clock comes from the old town hall of Harderwijk. The organ was put into use in 1903. The marble plaque beneath it, bearing the names of Jonkheer CJ Sandberg van Essenburg, H. Ardelerhof, and JM van Voorst van Beest, commemorates the fundraising for the instrument.

During this Open Monument Day, only the farmyard will be open to the public on a limited basis. At this monumental farmhouse, the original pigsty is a point of interest. A bakehouse also stands in the yard. One of the characteristics of the Dutch farmhouse was that all functions – living, working, livestock housing, and harvest storage – took place under one roof. For practical reasons, bread baking took place outside the main building. Due to the risk of fire, the bakehouse was preferably placed at some distance from the farmhouse. When bread was no longer baked on the farm, the bakehouse was given other uses.

Historic Harbour Quarter Harderwijk – Heritage by the water

The Historic Harbour Quarter in Harderwijk takes you back in time to the rich fishing past of this Hanseatic city. Situated on the Havendijk, the Harbour Quarter forms a unique ensemble of monumental buildings and living heritage, where artisans, millers, and boat experts bring history to life. During the annual Open Monument Day, the quarter opens its doors to the general public.

The water tower was built in 1895 to a design by D. de Leeuw. The height is 18.95 m; the capacity of the water reservoir is 336 m³. Today: exhibition space for objects from World War II. On Open Monument Day, the memorial center, which is housed in the water tower, is open.

The Archaeological Cellar of the Dwangburcht can only be visited during a city walk throughout the year. During this Open Monument Day, the Archaeological Cellar of the Dwangburcht is open and a city guide is present. During archaeological excavations in 2022, remains of the Dwangburcht, which was built at the end of the Middle Ages, were discovered. The location of the Peelenpoort was also determined.

Originally, a freestanding defensive tower stood at this location in the former Zuiderzee. The base of the sea tower subsequently formed part of the city’s fortifications as a bastion, also known as a rondel. From 1539 to 1581, the bastion formed part of the Nieuwe Blokhuis, the fortress of coercion of Duke Charles of Gelre. Parts of the bastion also served for a long time as the so-called “kiekmuur,” where fishermen and fisherwomen could look out over the former Zuiderzee during stormy weather. This kiekmuur was demolished in 1933. During archaeological research, the remains of the bastion and the kiekmuur were rediscovered. In 2018, the bastion was restored and the kiekmuur was reconstructed. The square block in the paving marks the base of the old sea tower.

The former St. Catherine’s Monastery is open to limited interior viewing. Together with Academiestraat 14 and the St. Catherine’s Chapel, this building formed the monastic complex of the St. Catherine’s Monastery. After the Reformation, the buildings acquired a secular function. In 1593, it served as a residence and workshop for English weavers from Norwich. From 1843 to 1908, it was the warehouse for the Colonial Shipyard Depot. Be sure to view the building’s 500-year-old vaulted cellar. Since 1983, the former monastery has been used as an arts center, Cultuurkust. Cultuurkust is open to the public on Open Monument Day. During our open day, visitors can drop in to learn about Cultuurkust’s course offerings.

Throughout the year, the Smeepoort can only be visited during a city walk. The Smeepoort is opened to the public on Open Monument Day. After Harderwijk was granted city rights in 1231, the city was walled. Harderwijk possessed five city gates: two on the seaward side (Hoge Bruggepoort and Vischpoort) and three on the landward side (Smeepoort, Luttekepoort, and Grote Poort). Only remnants remain of the gates on the landward side. The Smeepoort is one such remnant. In 1673, French troops demolished a large part of the Smeepoort; now only a side section with a guard room remains. Three so-called flood stones are embedded in the wall. They indicate the water level during: the All Saints’ Flood (1570), the flood of 1825, and the inundation of 1916. This last flood, which caused many casualties, particularly in North Holland, was the definitive reason for closing off the former Zuiderzee.

The Former District Court is not open to the public throughout the year. On Open Monument Day, the ground floor is open to the public on a limited basis. This stately mansion, built in the Louis XV style, dates in its current form from the eighteenth century. The core of the mansion is much older and dates from shortly after the great city fire of 1503. Originally, there were three houses: two buildings with parallel roofs and a third house standing transversely behind them. The various houses are still visible at the rear. In 1712, the various parts were merged into one large mansion commissioned by Antony van Westervelt. The front room features beautifully painted panoramic wallpaper from 1814, originating from the Zuber firm in Rixheim (France), depicting rural life in Switzerland: La vue Suisse and La Grande Helveti. The building was restored in 1961/1962 and served as a district court from 1984 to 2004. Currently, office spaces and apartments are located in the building.

The Linnaeus Tower is closed throughout the year and cannot be viewed from the inside on this Heritage Day either. The staircase in the Linnaeus Tower is narrow, so not many people can go up at the same time anyway. The Linnaeus Tower was built in the 16th century and served as a stairwell. The internal staircase provided access to the floors of the Commandery, the headquarters of the Order of St. John. The other buildings of the monastic order were located in ‘s-Heeren Loo (municipality of Ermelo). A memorial stone (dated 1570) and two coats of arms (on the left the family crest of Commander Ten Start and on the right the crest of the Order of St. John) commemorate the completion of the building. During the academic era, it served as a prison for students. The name came into vogue after a bust of the Swedish botanist Linnaeus, who received his doctorate here in 1735, was placed in a niche in the turret in 1869.