The Zuiderzee Chapel

Since this chapel was the first building to be re-erected at the Zuiderzee Outdoor Museum, it deserves its own post.

It was known in its original location, Den Oever, as the hospice church because of the infirmary which was built onto the front of the chapel.

The people of Den Oever, who worshipped in this chapel for centuries, paid the churchwardens an annual contribution towards its upkeep. The chapel was used for other purposes besides services. For example, waterlogged merchandise from salvaged ships could be dried out in the church aisles, provided that the salvors donated part of the proceeds to the collection plate.

Each of these chairs was identified by the parishioner's name, I assume. But I wish I knew what the various numbers on the back of each indicates. The numbering seemed to be random.

The oldest parts of the chapel date from the 15th century but there was a good deal of rebuilding over the years. In 1968, the chapel was dismantled brick by brick and became the first museum object to be re-erected in the Zuiderzee Museum. Impressive.