Kapel Avezaath can be explored through its architectural history and a specific connection to cycling: the Reformed village church combines Gothic and later elements, three farms show different forms of rural architecture, and the “Fietsen langs de buren van Buren” cycling route passes through the village. Written and archaeological traces with different historical contexts add to the picture. If you want to combine cultural history and cycling on one trip, Kapel Avezaath offers a distinctive focus for doing so.
A village church with several building phases
A single-nave Reformed village church stands at Zoelensestraat 2. Its Gothic nave may date from the 14th century. A small tower above the west façade dates from the 19th century; the taller, Late Gothic choir has a ribbed cross vault. The nave and choir therefore differ not only as parts of the church, but also in height and vault design.
The furnishings include several pieces from different periods. A 17th-century baptismal rail surrounds the pulpit. The pulpit is in the Louis XV style; the hymn board is in the same style and dated 1772. The single-manual organ was built in 1917 by P. van Dam using older pipework. The building’s form and furnishings thus add their own historical touches: alongside the church’s Gothic features are later additions, each with its own date.
Three farms, different layouts
The architecture of the farms can also be compared through specific features. Hoeve Zuiderweert dates from the first half of the 19th century and has a T-shaped layout. Its windows have six panes; a tall, thatched hipped roof sits above the residence. Hoeve Waardzicht also has a T-shaped layout. Date anchors on the side façade date the farm to 1862.
Jochmanshof dates from the first quarter of the 19th century. Its residential section consists of two parallel wings, built crosswise in front of the barn under a continuous thatched hipped roof. Zuiderweert and Waardzicht share the T-shaped layout, while their windows, roofs and date anchors provide different individual details. Jochmanshof offers a different emphasis: here, the arrangement of the residential wings in relation to the barn shapes the layout of the residential section. The features described thus range from individual building elements to the layout of an entire farmstead.
Written records and a cycling route
An early written record is the mention of Avezaath in a copy made toward the end of the 11th century. It preserves a document from the year 850 in which Count Balderik gives a farm to the Bishop of Utrecht. The two dates refer to different things: 850 is the year of the document, while the copy was made several centuries later.
Archaeological finds also add to the history of the village. Parts of a second shipwreck were observed at the same findspot in Kapel Avezaath; the ship was not investigated further. A copper cauldron was found in a sand pit about 50 metres downstream. It was taken to the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden along with other metal finds. The finds therefore include both the limited observation of the second ship and the cauldron’s subsequent journey.
The “Fietsen langs de buren van Buren” cycling route passes through Kapel Avezaath. The route runs through small villages, many of them surrounded by fruit farms and rivers. In spring, flowering fruit trees often create striking views in these villages.
French-inspired bistro cuisine
Brasserie Poelzicht in Kapel Avezaath serves bistro dishes based on classic French cuisine, presented in a contemporary style. Dining is therefore another part of the village’s profile, alongside its church and farm architecture. If you want to combine the cultural and rural sides of a destination with a specific dining option, this offers another detail to consider when planning your trip.
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