Doopsgezinde vermaning

The main shape and the interior, with the benches, the lectern and the copper chandelier, have been intact. It therefore forms an image-defining element in the street. It is typical of a late 19th century Admonition in built-up areas, which openly knocks on doors. More than 200 years ago, the municipality bought the vacant church from the Jansenists, who had since moved to Breedstraat. Until 1892 people worshiped in that old church. The municipal council then advised to demolish the church because it would pose a danger to the passing “good community”. The Venedie was then still partly a canal, which was filled in in 1903.

The architect of the municipality of Enkhuizen was commissioned to design a church building. For a long time it was thought that this was an original design, until more than 25 years ago the Municipality decided to thoroughly restore its Vermaning. Naturally, a deep search was made for all information about the church. It turned out that a few years before 1891 the Mennonite Community of Vlissingen had a new church built. The city architect “borrowed” the drawings from this colleague from Zeeland and adapted the dimensions to the Enkhuizer possibilities.

There is still a photo of the church in Vlissingen, which was completely destroyed by a bombardment in 1942. The current church bears no resemblance to the previous church of Vlissingen. Yet the Vermaning is so unique because of its style of construction that it was first on the provincial list of monuments and is now on the National Monuments List. The Mennonite church is of architectural-historical value: it is a representative example of a neo-Renaissance church. The main shape and the interior, with the benches, the lectern and the copper chandelier, have been intact. It therefore forms an image-defining element in the street. It is typical of a late 19th century Admonition in built-up areas, which openly knocks on doors.