Monuments in Noord-Holland

R. Stenvert en C. Kolman (2006)

Gepubliceerd op 30-03-2018

The (Herv.) Westzijder or Bullekerk in Zaandam

betekenis & definitie

(Westzijde 75) is a cross church with supporting bears (swinging out at the bottom), two entrance portals and a wooden celebration tower with double openwork eight-sided crown. This church, built in 1638-'40, was extended in 1672 (west side) and 1680 (east side), and was given spout gables with pilasters and corner volutes. The entrance portals date from 1680 (east side) and 1711 (west side). In the celebration tower there is a clock cast by Assuerus Koster (1640). Against the south transept is a consistory from 1861 to a sober neoclassical design by L.J. Immink. The church was restored in 1969-'75.

The interior is covered by wooden barrel vaults with draw beams and has a stone floor and stained glass windows from 1682 (G. van Houten) and 1725 (Cornelis Jongejeugt). The 17th-century inventory includes a pulpit (1644), a doophek, two gentlemen's banks, a few pews and a ten-decreed sign (1656). From the 18th century, a gentleman's bench (1712), representing a painting entitled 'the Bull's Cruelty' (1737) - the church derives its name Bullekerk - and a ministerial board (1778). The organ case (1711) made by Johannes Duyschot, with carving by Evert de Leeuw, contains an instrument from 1976 (Flentrop).