Raamsdonk in the dark: Lambertus church by Thomas van der Willik

About "Raamsdonk in the dark: Lambertus church"

by Thomas van der Willik

About the artwork

Lambert Church is the reformed church of Raamsdonk. It is located on the outskirts of the village, unlike the village centre itself north of the A59 motorway. History Traditionally, the patronage of Lambert Church was held by the Bishop of Liège and it was one of the most advanced possessions of this diocese. The choice of patron saint points to its connection with Liege. A church must have stood there as early as around 1150, but no traces of it have ever been found, apart from the base of the stone baptismal font. Around 1275, a hall church was built in the same place, of which wall remains have been found, and which was provided with a tower in 1350. After the destruction of this church by the Sint-Elisabeth flood of 1421, the tower was retained. As the village was placed several hundred metres to the south, the church was now located outside the village. A new choir and transept were built around 1450, and in 1502 the nave was also renewed and the present situation arose. In 1609, the church became Protestant. Incidentally, it also served worldly purposes: a bolt in the church wall indicated how high the dykes had to be raised. In 1716, due to the swaer storm of thunder and blixem, the tower burned down to the masonry. In 1717, rebuilding was almost complete, but in the same year there was a storm-related flood, which swept away the church's under-construction spire and roof. In 1778, another e