The combination of well-preserved fortifications, a historic city centre full of monuments and the link with the Dutch Waterline make Gorinchem a city with a unique monumental character.
Gorinchem has 233 registered national monuments. In addition, the municipality of Gorinchem has designated 293 buildings/objects as municipal monument and 84 buildings as iconic building.
The Lingehaven
Fortifications
The Gorcumse fortress is the largest authentic fortress in the Netherlands. It is a beautiful walking area and offers a good overview of the historic city center and the Merwede. The Dalempoort is the only city gate still in existence and dates from 1597. On top of the dome is a weather vane with the Dutch lion pictured. Other gateways, such as the Waterpoort (Water gate), Kanselpoort (Pulpit Gate) and Arkelpoort, are in the 19e century demolished.
The Dalempoort and mill “De Hoop” (2018)
Churches
In 1844 the medieval Gothic cruciform church, dedicated to Saint Martin, was demolished due to dilapidation. The tower, which is often incorrectly called the 'Sint Janstoren' in popular parlance, remained standing. What is special about this tower is that the lowest of the three sections is crooked, while the other sections are straight. This gives the tower a clear bend. The Grote Kerk (Big church), which was built on the site of the medieval church, dates from 1851 and was designed by Isaac Warnsinck. This church is a typical example of 19th century church architecture.ecentury.
Grote Kerk (1851), right view of the Groenmarkt with the medieval cruciform church (around 1650).
The facade of the Heilige Geestkapel (Holy Ghost Chapel) located at Arkelstraat 28, dates from the early 15th centurye century. Until about 1572 the chapel was managed by the Holy Ghost Fathers, who provided food and fuel to the needy from here. Today the building houses a clothing store.
The Roman Catholic church, dedicated to HH. Nicolaas Pieck and Gezellen, was built between 1836 and 1838. It is a Water Board Church, designed by the Gorinchem architect Johannes van Nune. The church has a simple brick facade and a square wooden bell tower. In 1984 the church was converted into an apartment complex.
Grote Toren (Great Tower) (15de century), Heilige Geestkapel (Holy Spirit Chapel) (15de century), Rehoboth Church (1909) and Nicolaas Pieck Church (1838)
The Rehoboth Church, designed by Tjeerd Kuipers, was built in 1909 and houses the Christian communityThe church has a scalene octagonal tower.
Public buildings
The old town hall on the Grote Markt was built in 1860 according to a design by the Rotterdam architect AW van DamNowadays here are the Gorcum Museum, Tourist and a catering facility are housed in it. Since 1898, the town hall has been home to the Wilhelmina Fountain, which consists of a column with an allegorical female figure holding a palm branch and a laurel wreath. The woman stands in a basin supported by two herons and two dolphins.
The Gorcum Museum in the old town hall (1860) and the Wilhelmina Fountain (1898) on the Grote Markt
In the Molenstraat is De Doelen (The Goals), dating from 1589. On the target area the marksmen could practice their skills with weapons. After their training the marksmen of St.-Joris and St.-Christoffel would meet in the 'Doelhuys' to eat together. The almost square building has a recently built staircase tower. In addition, on the river side of the city is the former Tolhuis (Toll house), Molenstraat 109, where tolls were collected for the counts of Holland. Also in Molenstraat are the Reformed Orphanage from 1557 and the Roman Catholic Orphanage and Poor House from 1869.
The Toll House, the Sint-Jorisdoelen, the Burgerkinderweeshuis and the Roman Catholic Orphanage and Poor House.
In 1886 the Watertoren (Water tower) built on Visserslaan to a design by Jan SchotelToday it houses nine homes.
Houses
Op Burgstraat 30 is the former residence ''t Coemt al van God' from 1563, which has a beautifully decorated Renaissance stepped gable. The former residence 'This is in Bethlehem', Gasthuisstraat 25, was built in 1566 and has a beautiful gable with many Renaissance decorations. On the Appeldijk there are 17e in 18e-century warehouses can be found that have interesting facade stones.
Residential houses 'Comt al van God' (1563) and 'Dit is in Bethlehem' (1566). The Water Tower (1886).
Mills
During a walk on the ramparts of Gorinchem you can come across two stone city corn mills where grain was ground into flour. At the Paardenwater, Bagijnenwal 38, is the windmill ‘Nooit Volmaakt’ ('Never Perfect'), which was built in 1718. This mill later failed to catch enough wind, which is why it was raised by four metres in 1764. Another stone smock mill, ‘De Hoop’ ('The Hope'), is located at the Dalempoort on Dalemwal 3.
Grain mills 'Never Perfect' (1772) and 'De Hoop' (1764).
Watermills the 'Oostmolen' (1817) and the 'Westmolen' (1814).
Just outside Gorinchem you will find two seesaw mills at the Grote Schelluinsekade. The Oostmolen (East mill) at number 2 dates from 1817, while the Westmolen (West mill) at number 18 was built in 1814. Both mills drained the polders Banne van Gorinchem and Kwakernaat until an electric pumping station took over their function in 1971.
Monuments map
This map is still under development. A complete overview of all Gorcum monuments can be found here here