Nieuwveen’s local history is reflected in several clearly dated landmarks: churches, a parsonage, a bridge and an exhibition space each offer a different perspective. The timeline stretches from a crossing point mentioned since the mid-18th century to construction and renovation dates in the 19th and 20th centuries. This provides a specific cultural focus for a stay: architecture, religious history and the history of the former municipality of Liemeer offer different ways of looking at the town.

Churches and their architectural history

The Roman Catholic Church of Sint-Nicolaas is Gothic Revival in style and was built in 1867 to a design by Amsterdam architect Theo Asselaar. Its tower was built in 1886 to a design by E. Margry of Rotterdam. There are 19 years between the construction of the church and its tower, and the designs were by architects from two different cities. The Gothic Revival style reinterprets Gothic architectural forms in a later building. At the Church of Sint-Nicolaas, a clearly identified stylistic feature thus combines with two separate construction phases.

Another church history is connected with Kerkstraat 45. The church there, bounded by the Ringvaart and Kerkstraat, dates from 1831. Its tower underwent major improvements in 1929, giving it its present form. The Protestant church, formerly the Reformed Church, also has an organ with two manuals, made by H. Knipscheer in 1858. Two manuals means that the organ has two keyboards. The sequence of dates distinguishes three aspects: the church building of 1831, the organ of 1858 and the later alteration of the tower. Alongside the Roman Catholic Church of Sint-Nicolaas, this brings another religious tradition into view.

Parsonage, bridge and local history

Huize Sassenoord offers another perspective on the town’s Reformed history: the building was constructed in 1848 as a parsonage for the Dutch Reformed congregation in Nieuwveen. A sculpture garden lies behind the house. Its original function as a parsonage and the garden are two distinct aspects of the site; the building also complements the church history with a different type of architecture.

The Kattenbrug is at the end of Oude Nieuwveenseweg, at a crossing point mentioned since the mid-18th century. The present bridge dates from 1995 and is a copy of the former movable bridge. Two periods can be distinguished here: the older reference concerns the crossing point, while the more recent date refers to the present bridge. Its design echoes that of the former movable bridge.

The Oudheidkamer Nieuwveen is the exhibition space of the Liemeer Historical Society. It houses the history of the former municipality of Liemeer, which included the villages of Nieuwveen and Zevenhoven. This extends the historical perspective beyond individual buildings to encompass the former municipality.

You can choose your focus based on your interests: the churches offer several distinct construction phases and different religious connections. The Kattenbrug links the history of a crossing point with a more recent bridge. The Oudheidkamer broadens the view to include the history of the former municipality of Liemeer. Nieuwveen thus offers clearly distinct themes: architectural history, religious tradition and local history.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Zevenhoven, Noorden, Nieuwkoop, Ter Aar, Woerdense Verlaat.

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