IJsselstein Things to Do

When in IJsselstein, take
a little time to make a visit
to the town library.

Unlike most libraries, here
you can check out not only
books, but you can also
ckeckout framed prints
and pictures ....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The reformed church was founded
in 1309 by Gijsbrecht van Amstel,
Lord of Ijsselstein, as a parish church
by the name of St. Nicolaas.
In 1397 it became a chapter church.
Most of the current church dates from
the late 15th century and was built after
1466 ....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Late 1466, the entire town including the church was destroyed by a
ttacking troops from Gelre.

While most of the building isn't very special, both the ambulatory
and the tower are quite interesting. Both added to the status of the
church. The ambulatory in its current form dates from shortly after
1500, when the existing one was widened.

It bears similarities to the ambulatory of the St. Jan in Gouda and
the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam, with each side of the ambulatory
featuring a pointed gable and a tall window.

The tower is a rare example of pure Italian renaissance-style. It was
designed after 1530, when Italian architect Allesandro Pasqualini
joined the court of the lord of Ijsselstein. It must have been completed
in 1535. For the same master Pasqualini designed a tower segment
for the church in Buren, as well as a new transept for the church of
Grave. Of the tower in Ijsselstein the entire square part and the first
octagonal segment are by Pasqualini. In 1568 a fire destroyed the
higher parts. In 1633-1635 the current second octagonal part was
added, designed by Adriaen van Spieringshoeck. Also a new spire
was added, which was destroyed by fire in 1911. It was replaced in
1925-1928 by a new one in Expressionistic style which in 1921 had
been designed by founding member of the Amsterdam School
Michel de Klerk .....

This is a neo gothic church ....
R.K. St. Nicolaas Church
Built between 1885 - 1887.
Restoration was completed
in 1072, and Pope Paul VI
gave the church the title of
"Basilica Minor" in 1972 ......

We had a fun time here, not a big
musum, but it is packed with alot
of information ......

The Stadsmuseum provides you
the complete information on the
history of Old Isselstein.

Exibits are changed on a regular
basis to always have something
a little different.

4 more images

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
While in IJsselstein, a great
deal is to take a boat tour of
Old IJsselstein. My best friend
Arend is one of the Captains on
the boats.
The tours are run by an group
called "Yselvaert" ......
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tour Name: "Rondvaart door de stadsgracht van IJsselstein"
Boat Names: "Heer Gijsbrecht" and "Vrouwe Berthe"
Tours: May thru September
Saturday: 2/3 times - Sunday: 1 time (more tours if booked ahead)
Cost: 3.5 Euro
Tickets: Purchase at the VVA (Tourist Office) or the Stads Museum

Boat tour lasts about 45 minutes, than you take a great tour of the
Stads Museum that tells the history of IJsselstein, and then you visit
the Castle Tower. (May - September Only)

If you take the tour, ask for Captain Arend, and tell him that Al in
America sent you ....

2 more images

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Gerbrandy Tower - Dutch: Gerbrandytoren
This is a tower which was built in 1961 in
the Netherlands. It is situated between
Lopik and IJsselstein.

The total height of Gerbrandy Tower
was originally 382.5 metres, but it was reduced
in 1987 to 375 metres.

The structure, counted as a tower, is the tallest
tower in Western Europe.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During Christmas time lamps are put on the guys and make the
tower the biggest Christmas tree in the world. There were plans
to limit these decorations to once every 5 years, but sponsoring
has allowed the seasonal lighting to be put up every year so far.

The tower is named after Pieter Gerbrandy, Prime Minister of the
Netherlands during World War Two.

4 more images

A must visit is IJsselsteins
molen .... the "Windotter"
Built in 1732, it still makes
flour to this day.

They have a website, see below,
but it is in Dutch only ....
The Windotter Tea Room, a must
to see if you visit IJsselstein ....

The Windotter "Tea Room" is located on the property,
and is a littlle round building next to the windmill.

The photos here will show the view from the windows
in the "Windotter Tea Room" ......

~~ September 2004 ~~
We had our 25th Wedding Anniversary pictures taken
there along with our friends from IJsselstein.
It was also their 25th Wedding Anniversary ....

4 more images

A must visit is IJsselsteins
molen .... the "Windotter"
Built in 1732, it still makes
flour to this day.

They have a website, see below,
but it is in Dutch only ....

Address:
Walkade 73 - 3401 DR IJsselstein

Molenaar: Maarten Dolman