Monastery Jeruzalem - Gerkesklooster

The Monastery Jeruzalem in Gerkesklooster was founded in 1240 by Gerke Harkema and soon came under the influence of the Cistercians of the Klaarkamp monastery. It was dedicated to Mary and Benedict of Nursia and played an important role in the region for centuries.

The name Jeruzalem refers to the holy city which, in the Christian tradition, symbolises the heavenly ideal. By adopting this name, the monks spiritually connected themselves to the idea of the heavenly Jerusalem, without actually having to travel to Palestine.

After the Reformation, the monastery was dissolved in 1580 and largely demolished. Only the brewery remained and was converted into a Reformed church in 1629. The building was later altered several times: in 1786 a new roof was added and around 1854 a tower. The church still shows traces of its past, such as bricked-up niches and windows and remnants of the original chimney. The eastern part was later converted into a vicarage and now serves as a hall and upper room.

What was once a monastic brewery is now a national monument and the Reformed church of Gerkesklooster, where, in addition to church services, exhibitions and village activities also take place.