Nederland - Heiloo, Witte Kerk

Heiloo – originally named ‘Heilegelo’ (= ‘holy woods’) - dates back to the early 8th century and grew around a church which most probably was founded by missionary St. Willibrord around 700. A well next to the church still bears the name of Willibrord.

In the 15th century the church was extended. The building burnt down in 1568, was rebuilt, but five years later met a similar fate during the siege of the city of Alkmaar.

The present church was rebuilt in 1630. This former reformed church - no longer used for regular services- is a one-aisled building. The tower and part of the walls of the nave are in Romanesque style, while transept and choir are Gothic. The White Church has two organs; the large organ is composed in 1966 of pipes from an organ (1740), which came from a Roman Catholic hidden church in Alkmaar (PiP).
Early 19th century it became its striking white colour and since that time it was named ‘White Church’. Between 1964 and 1966 the church became a last restoration and its present appearance.