The Orange Church in Amsterdam by Don Fonzarelli

About "The Orange Church in Amsterdam"

by Don Fonzarelli

About the artwork

The Oranjekerk in Amsterdam: a black-and-white work by Don Fonzarelli The originally reformed Oranjekerk was built in the years 1902/1903. Ten years earlier, there had been a desire to erect a new church building in the expansion area on the south side of the city. In 1899, the building land is finally purchased. The tender took place on 28 February 1902. The church building was designed by architect C.B. Posthumus Meyjes, who came from a pastor's family. At the time of the tender, it is not yet certain whether the church will have a steeple or just a simple roof tower. In order to raise the money for a real tower, a "Stuiversvereeniging Torenbouw Kerk YY" (the designation of the Pijp at the time) is founded. Construction actually started on 6 March 1902, and the Orange Church was consecrated on Friday afternoon, 11 September 1903. The church building is described in several newspaper reports as a large and beautiful building, whose basic shape is a Greek cross, with octagonal side arms. The church contains 1,500 seats and has no side columns: the preacher can therefore be clearly seen from any seat. In three of the four cross arms is an arcade with seats for churchgoers, in the fourth arm is the pulpit, above which is an arcade. The church (with tower!) was inaugurated with a speech by Rev A. Voorhoeve, the dedication speech of Rev A. Voorhoeve being issued for the purchase of an organ. In 1904, a co