KEYNOTEPETER BREUKINK

Extended Use Attracts Visitors

FRH Conference in Vicenza9th Nov. 2016

Extended Use Attracts Visitors Peter Breukink, director of Stichting Oude Groninger Kerken

130 churches per year closing

Loss of public function of churches

The church as place to come together

Does new use attract visitors?

Almost fifty years of experience

1969: secularization and shrinkage

Decay

Saving churches in a private organization

85 churches, 2 synagogues

Wehe: re-use as a regional theatre

The old pulpit

New vault painting

Conservation is bound to usage

The role of the monumental interior

17th century church of Kiel-Windeweer

How can a re-used church attract tourists?

Three functions that make re-used churches valuable for tourists:

• A new and sensational function• An accessible monument• A combination of seansational and accessible

Dominican Maastricht

Waanders Zwolle

Klein-Wetsinge

An open church / regional food

In the hood of the church...

…there’s a spectacular viewing point

Succesfull as a touristic attraction