History

In 1885, the firm Maarschalkerweerd & Son (Utrecht) built a small organ for the chapel “Insula Dei” in Arnhem.

In 1906 it was transferred to the new chapel of the Sint Elisabeths gasthuis in Arnhem.

In 1954, it was built by the company Jos. Vermeulen (Alkmaar) in the new r.-k. Salvator Church in Veenendaal placed. The upper cabinet is then gone. Via Waddinxveen, Capelle aan den IJssel and Puttershoek, it ended up at the beginning of the 1970s in the reformed church of Kol-horn through the mediation of G. Verloop (Schagen).

In June 1979 it ended up in the choir of the St. Christoforus Church in Schagen as a temporary organ in anticipation of a larger instrument. After the installation of the Nicholson organ there in 1981, the small Maarschalkerweerd organ was thoroughly restored. It is provided with a simple new upper case and an old pedal keyboard is added as an attached pedal. After this, it will be placed in the Reformed Church of Lobith-Tolkamer.

In 2003, the organ was stored with the Van Vulpen firm in Utrecht.

 

After extensive deliberations by the Reformed Council of Churches in Westervoort, architect H.J. Tiemens addressed the College of Mayor and Aldermen of the Municipality of Herwen and Aerdt on behalf of the building committee on June 6, 1936. He requested a permit for: “The construction of a small church building, according to the drawing with description attached in triplicate herewith.” The annex would be placed on the north-eastern part of the “Tuindorp” site, “south of the road from Tolkamer to the refuge to be made. It was emphatically reported by the architect that the building would not contain a dwelling and was intended for church purposes.

Around the site was a fence provided with T-iron posts, along which was a meter-high harmonica mesh and two pointed wires. On the street side, the poles at the top end would be bent inward. The cadastral plot on which the building was to stand was to pass in ownership “to the Reformed Church of Westervoort. The application came before the B. and W. meeting on July 13, 1936. The city superintendent had attached some notes there about technical sections that had to correspond to the building code.

It was decided to grant the permit, which was sent to ‘the Secretary of the Building Committee, Mr. J. Mook, Border Office “Ossenwaard”, in Lobith.

Construction was completed in October 1936. In the meeting of the church council in Westervoort on February 19, 1937, the “brothers from Lobith” gave an account of income and expenses.

 

During World War II, the building was badly damaged, and then rebuilt so that it could be used again for church services in 1948, design by architect J.L. Sprey. A plaque in the front facade holds the memory of it:

“That thine eyes be open night and day over this house… 1 Kings 8:29 This church, after being destroyed in 1945, was rebuilt in 1948.”

The arguments were the reason for the mayor and aldermen to give the building a place on the municipal monument list after a positive advice by both the Heemkundekring Rijnwaarden, the Gelders Genootschap and the welstand committee.

Last service

In October 2003, the church was withdrawn from worship and repurposed. Below is an excerpt from the latest newsletter from the Chairman of the Church Council:

“After the merger of the three Protestant churches in Rijnwaarden, the number of visitors to weekly worship services increased again. But even for the United Protestant Church Community, owning three churches is a heavy financial burden, while in addition many churchgoers expressed the desire to no longer have to go to a different church every week, in short to have their own home again. With great difficulty, the church council finally decided to stop holding services in this church and to sell the building. This was a difficult and painful decision for the Church of Tuindorp, a church where children were allowed to be children, a church where we sang together of our Lord, but above all where we heard God’s word. We are closing these doors, but fortunately we can fulfill our desire to hear God’s word and want to sing of Him in both other churches.”

 

In 2003, an agreement in principle of sale is entered into which includes provisions that a zoning change is possible with a rezoning to residential.

Eventually, the little church was purchased in 2006 and was converted into a residence with municipal monument status. From moment of sale, it took a total of 5 years before the little church could be occupied. During this period, the zoning change took place and the conversion into a residence was realized.

B&B Het Schipperskerkje opened in 2023.

 

The villages of Lobith and Tolkamer and the hamlet of Tuindorp were part of the municipality of Herwen and Aerdt in 1967. Lobith had experienced a major growth spurt, halting the postwar housing shortage. There was an extensive storefront, from bicycles to home appliances and clothing to groceries.

Tolkamer experienced prosperity through shipping. Ships had to dock there to check papers, cargo and persons. The time was used for café visits by the boaters and shopping by the boaters’ wives. At that time, Tolkamer had, among other things, five butcher shops and as many as 13 pubs! And that for a village of less than 1,000 inhabitants. Most of the labor force worked at one of the many brickyards along the Rhine. Shipyard De Hoop was also a major employer. In Tolkamer, customs, military police and shipping companies provided jobs.

The hamlet of Tuindorp, located between the shipyard and the refuge harbor, was created around 1920, i.e. 100 years ago. The shipyard “Bodewes,” later “De Hoop,” located next door, needed affordable housing for the often Polish shipyard workers. On a section of land outside the dike on Bylandseweg, the for that time very modern `Tuindorp Bodewes` was built. The workers’ houses were designed according to the Garden City architecture from the so-called Delft School, by the famous master builder M.J. Grandpré Moliére. The homes were spacious and surrounded by Conifers and Acacias and other greenery.

In a fairly short time after Tuindorp was built, the shipyard went bankrupt. The Poles left again for their homeland and the homes on Tuindorp became vacant. There were about 75 vacant homes with rents of Fl. 3.25 and Fl. 4.25 per week. On May 6, 1927, the curtain fell on Scheepswerf Bodewes, and the `Tuindorp` was purchased by the builder Jan van den Berg and the Merchant Aart van der Velden of Rotterdam. They appointed the Tuindorp resident J. Jansen as Rent Collector. A number of houses on `Tuindorp` are currently still owned by the Erven van der Velden.

Streets were named after the sea vessels built at the shipyard, such as Tengbergen Street, Berenice Street, Astrea Street and Rheast Street. Tuindorp has a monumental appearance. This is precisely why the village was given the title Protected Villagescape in 2008.

Annual highlights in Lobith-Tolkamer are the carnival and militia festivals, which begin on the Sunday after Ascension Day with a solemn procession through the streets of the village. Both militia guilds, Eendracht maakt Macht(EMM) and Excelsior, will celebrate 3 days of wonderful festivities.

Tuindorp has joined in this tradition and since April 1, 2006 has its own little militia guild “Kleintje Kermis” and every 2nd Saturday in September there is a big party in Tuindorp.

 

In 1995, Tuindorp was in the national news due to the flooding of the Rhine River. Tuindorp in particular, which was behind summer dikes, was about to be evacuated.

Without consultation, the province suddenly determined that evacuation was necessary of which the municipality was not informed. This brought great chaos. Large numbers proceeded to evacuate; others remained at their posts and brought their furniture to the second floor.

After visits from dignitaries including then Queen Beatrix, eventually Tuindorp was also surrounded by a higher Winter Dike which now clearly reduced the risk of flooding.

The future of Tuindorp was once again the subject of vigorous public discussion around 2005. Shipyard De Hoop originally wanted to build a large shed between Tuindorp and Tolkamer but this did not go ahead due to opposition from the residents of Tuin-dorp.

All of this has ensured that there is a strong sense of community in Tuindorp with its own community center, an active neighborhood association with dart club, billiards club, craft club for the children a private militia and more activities.