What is a hidden church (schuilkerk)?
A hidden church (Dutch: schuilkerk) is a church space that cannot be recognised as a church from the outside. The space is concealed in or behind an ordinary house or warehouse, or behind a facade that looks like a normal house front. There is no tower, no bells and no church facade.
Hidden churches are especially characteristic of the Northern Netherlands from the end of the sixteenth century. After the Reformation, the public practice of the Catholic faith was banned and existing church buildings passed into the hands of the Reformed (Protestant) church. Catholics, but also other non-Reformed groups such as Lutherans, Mennonites and Remonstrants, therefore gathered in church spaces that did not attract attention. The authorities often tolerated this, as long as it remained inconspicuous. Only at the end of the eighteenth century did freedom of religion come to the Netherlands, allowing these communities to build recognisable churches again.
Features:
- an inconspicuous street facade, similar to the neighbouring buildings;
- the church space lies behind or above the dwelling, sometimes spanning several merged buildings or in the attic;
- often galleries or storeys around the space to fit in as many people as possible;
- inside, sometimes a rich interior with altar, pulpit and organ, in stark contrast to the plain exterior.
Application
The best-known example is Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic) in Amsterdam: a complete church in the attics of a seventeenth-century canal house, now a museum. In many other towns, hidden churches have also survived or can be traced in the structure of old buildings.
For owners and lovers of old buildings:
- An unusually tall space, galleries or a wide roof structure behind a narrow facade may indicate a former hidden church or church hall.
- Many hidden churches in the Netherlands are national monuments. Renovation then requires an environmental permit; consult the municipality beforehand. Other countries have their own rules; check with your local planning or heritage authority.
- Building-history research helps determine which elements are valuable before you start renovating.
Related Terms
- Parts of a church
- Hall church
- Cruciform church
- Listed building
- Facade
Discover our DIY plans at fredsdiyplans.com