Klokkenstoel
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Audio clip - Hemrik clock tower
Friesland
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Beeldbepalend
Historie

At the White Church of Hemrik, there are all kinds of things to see, including the Hemrik belfry. In 1739, the rebuilt church was consecrated by Rev Nicolai. Building a tower was too expensive in the 18th century, but there was already a belfry with two bells. In 1494, the first bell was cast by the travelling bell-founder Gerhard de Wou and this fact indicates that people already lived here at that time. The bell has a diameter of 100 cm. and weighs at least 650 kg. On the bell you will find the following text: _'Sanctus Andreas is myn naem. Myn gheludt sy gode bequaem. Gerhardus de Wou me fecit'. Anno domini MCCCCXCIV (1494).' _ A second bell was added in 1727. The belfry stood on the street side of the church. In 1921, it was decided to replace the belfry and move it to behind the church, and then only with the oldest bell. The second bell eventually ended up in the clock house in Gorredijk. Unfortunately, it was requisitioned and melted down by the Germans during WWII. The oldest bell was spared because of its great historical value. In 1987, the belfry was restored again and the bell is now rung by volunteers in turn at 12 o'clock on every working day. At the time, Gerhardus de Wou was Western Europe's leading bell-founder. Some 140 of his bells remain, including his most famous E-bell Gloriosa weighing about 11,400 kg from 1497 in Erfurt.

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