Preserving Oostkerk
Monumentenbezit has started a large-scale preservation project at the Oostkerk in Middelburg. Wall and floor heating and heated rear glazing will be installed in the Top 100 monument, and an innovative horizontal air curtain will be installed in the dome. This will allow the operator Stichting de Oostkerk to open the church longer to the public during the winter months and is expected to reduce energy costs by 50%.
Mark van den Bos | director/director Monumentenbezit
Healthy operation
2018 saw the transfer of the church from the Protestant Municipality of Middelburg to Monumentenbezit. Since 2019, Stichting de Oostkerk has successfully organized culturally and socially connecting programming there with exhibitions, musical performances and other events. Making the Oostkerk more sustainable helps optimize operations by reducing energy costs and expanding public accessibility. Robin Koot, Monumentenbezit project leader: "The preservation techniques are specifically tailored to this monumental building and together provide the solution for a comfortable space and economically sound operation. At the same time, all monumental values are preserved."
Sustainable monument
The walls and floor will have aquifer heating with heat from the air/water heat pump. The large windows will have electrically heated HR++ back glass. With an innovative horizontal air curtain and cold air exhaust system, the volume of air to be heated is reduced. Thus, heat low in the room is optimally utilized.
Mark van den Bos, Director Monumentenbezit: "Like other owners of monuments, we have the challenge of making monuments more sustainable in combination with preserving the monumental values of the property. Making the Oostkerk, a top-100 monument, more sustainable offers perspective for all other monuments. We are proud to contribute in this way to the social task of energy transition."
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Cooperation partner TERTS
Monument Heritage has become a cooperation partner of TERTS, a cross-border cooperation program with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund. TERTS promotes sustainable energy use in the tertiary sector by demonstrating innovative techniques and providing guidance to SMEs. The East Church is included as one of the program's five demonstration sites. Learn more at www.terts.org. The project lasts at the East Church until March 2022.
