Koepelkerk (Leeuwarden: NETHERLANDS)

In the days before the Coronavirus closed down most of the performances around the world, I would find myself in strange little parts of The Netherlands which I wouldn't ordinarily travel to. Leeuwarden is one of the northern-most cities in The Netherlands and if I didn't know any better, it is most famous for being the end point of one of the longer train lines in this low lying country!

However, I do play in a group that is based in the north of The Netherlands and I've had cause to visit the north quite often. In fact, I do find it to be quite a relaxing place to be... there is lots of space, and the place is stunningly beautiful in winter! Although, the last few years have seen it without the layers of snow that make it look like a landscape from a van Gogh painting.

The Koepelkerk is a recently built church (1923) that has since been converted into a theatre. It is now known as the Koepeltheatre... which was incredibly confusing for me during this trip up to the north. I had arrived at the venue expecting something a little more theatre-like and definitely not a church!

Constructed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Queen Wilhelmina, the church was supposed to bear the name Wilhelminakerk... but unfortunately, that honour was taken by a different church in Dordrecht. The church was built in a strange style that would hark back to the early days of church construction and is today listed as a national monument.

Like many of the old churches in the Netherlands, this church was sold into private hands with the provision that the exterior and interior remains protected and kept in good condition. Many national heritage buildings suffer this fate. Often these sales are for a symbolic amount, as the upkeep of these monuments can be quite expensive!

For me, this was an interesting church... but not a very impressive one if I have to be honest. The exterior was a bit too blocky for me... it does resemble some of the cathedrals, but without the enormous and awesome splendour of the larger buildings... and brickwork doesn't really compare to gigantic blocks of stone!

However, the place does have quite a bit of charm leftover from it's days as a Protestant church on the inside. What I love most about the older churches (in addition to their usually very pleasant acoustic for playing music!) are the stained glass windows.