Den Hoorn Church, Holland

**Philip** · #1 06-06-2022, 03:44 PM

Den Hoorn is an island in the north of Holland. The church there, a bit isolated from the modern village of today, was built to replace an earlier wooden chapel torn down in 1409. Works were completed in 1425, and in 1450 a beacon tower was added so that the church could act also as a lighthouse. The tower was replaced by the current electrical three-colour light system in 2008. During the occupation of WWII the church bells were confiscated and destined for passage to Germany, but the ship carrying them sunk near Urk and after the war they were salvaged and returned to their rightful place. I imagine they are clanging away even as I type.

The die-cut kit was published by Texelse Bouwplatenfabriek, Den Burg, Holland. Couldn't tell you when but it was some time ago. The quoted scale is HO (1:87) and the base measures 29 x 17 cm. All in all, an enjoyable build. The vestry at the rear boasts a three room interior, including a water closet, but not enough light can penetrate the openings for it to be seen. Ho hum. Yes, I know the belltower leans outward, but it is meant to. Any other misalignments you notice would be the result of my cack-handedness.

Here's a picture of a very green field with some sheep in it: Den Hoorn, North Holland - Wikipedia

**Ponytail** · #2 06-06-2022, 05:28 PM

A little remark: Den Hoorn is a little village on the island Texel...
In the north of Netherlands. ;-)

**sander1942** · #3 06-06-2022, 05:57 PM

Love these small churches. Nicely done.

**Foute Man** · #4 06-06-2022, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponytail

A little remark: Den Hoorn is a little village on the island Texel...
In the north of Netherlands. ;-)

And the geography lesson continues....

The island of Texel is part of the province of Noord-Holland.
There is also a village/small town called Den Hoorn in the province of Zuid-Holland, close to Delft

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip

Den Hoorn is an island in the north of Holland.

If you refer to Holland as a region, your're right. Den Hoorn is part of the region in the north western part of the country that's called Holland.
If you refer to Holland as a country, you're very wrong. Holland has never been the official name, and it was being used to attract tourists (who came for the fairy tale of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes, heineken, hash and whores) and investors. However, a couple of years ago the Dutch government decided to stop using "Holland" in favour of "The Netherlands"...... and that's the one and only correct name of the country

**Vermin_King** · #5 06-07-2022, 07:10 AM

I am sure that no offense was intended.

**Viator** · #6 06-07-2022, 08:44 AM

Very fine model! I like especially how the different wall textures harmonize with one another.

**Foute Man** · #7 06-07-2022, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vermin_King

I am sure that no offense was intended.

I'm not offended at all, as I do recognize the Dutch themselves are to be blamed for causing this misunderstanding. Like I mentioned, the term "Holland" was used as a "brand name" for decades to attract tourists and foreign investors.
On the personal level, I don't like the created image of "windmills and tulips etc" that much, but that's my own problem....

It's the historian in me that appreciates a certain degree of accuracy in naming locations and areas in the correct way. So using Holland in this context is just as incorrect as saying Texas is part of New York (or vice versa)......

Interesting story about the church bells, as during WW2 the Germans took a lot of church bells out of church towers to melt them to use the metals for the weaponindustry. The bells from the church in my hometown were also taken, and ended up at the bottom of the IJsselmeer as well. Will dig a bit deeper in this, I think

@Vermin_King: did anyone tell you what your nickname means in Dutch (although it's spelled "Verminking")?
@Philip: My apologies for hijacking your thread

**Styrian Spitfire** · #8 06-07-2022, 09:42 AM

Hello Philip ,

this is a very fine model

Kind regards
Kurt

**Vermin_King** · #9 06-07-2022, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foute Man

@Vermin_King: did anyone tell you what your nickname means in Dutch (although it's spelled "Verminking")?

I believe it is related to being disfigured ...

Hijacking over, maybe

**Philip** · #10 06-07-2022, 02:22 PM

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments, which have been an entertaining read. And the geography lessons were interesting. See, you learn something new every day.

I believe the bells were confiscated from quite a lot of churches in The Netherlands during the war. Once upon a time the houses in my street all had iron railings at the front but they were all taken away too, to help the war effort.