Unused Churches in the Netherlands Find New Purposes
Approximately 75 church buildings in the Netherlands are closed each year, according to the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. As a result, many of these former places of worship are being repurposed into alternative venues, such as trampoline parks, padel courts, and gyms.
A recent survey conducted by Hart van Nederland found that two-thirds of Dutch people do not object to closed churches being converted into libraries, cultural centers, or housing. However, the survey also revealed that the public is less enthusiastic about churches being reused as gyms, discotheques, or hospitality venues like beer breweries.
One example of a successful church conversion is the former Sint-Jozefkerk in Arnhem, which has been transformed into the Holy Padel padel court. Staff at the facility view the change as practical, with sports instructor Olaf van Baars stating, “We get visitors from all over the world.” The conversion of unused churches into new facilities is becoming increasingly common in the Netherlands, as communities seek to find innovative ways to breathe new life into these historic buildings.
Article and image source: nltimes.nl
