On the Slachtedyk, the Sint Martinuskerk stands out as a monumental silhouette in the flat landscape around Reahus. The Franeker Vaart also borders the village, adding to its peaceful rural scenery. Reahus therefore brings a striking church building together with surroundings shaped by flat land and adjacent water.
Church Architecture and Art History
The Sint Martinuskerk is a neo-Gothic pseudo-basilica dating from 1892; it was designed by the architect Alfred Tepe. The two technical terms describe different aspects: “neo-Gothic” identifies the style, while “pseudo-basilica” describes the building’s form. The construction date and architect add a time frame and design attribution to this classification. Those interested in church architecture therefore have more than a general stylistic label to start with.
Inside the church is an oak statue of Saint Martin dating from 1560. It is the church’s oldest art object and a unique late medieval object. The organ dates from 1928 and was built by the Adema brothers of Leeuwarden. Together, these dates span the late Middle Ages, the 19th-century church building and the 20th-century instrument—three distinct periods in the church’s history.
Another chapter in Catholic history dates back to 1707: after holding services in several scattered clandestine churches, the Catholic community established a permanent foothold in a small red-roofed church near the hamlet of Slyp. This episode adds a distinct point of reference for the community’s development to the history of its art and architecture.
Services and Walking Routes
Services at the Sint Martinuskerk are held on Saturday evenings at 19:00 and Sunday mornings at 09:30. These two times offer different options for the weekend. If you are planning your visit around a service, check the schedule beforehand, as times may change.
The Three Churches Route starts in Reahus and leads through meadows and the villages of Roodhuis (Reahûs), Lytsewierrum, Rien and Oosterend (Easterein). After leaving Reahûs heading north, the route follows the winding Slachtedyk.
The Swalkroute langs Lytsewierrum starts in Easterein and covers more than ten kilometres, passing the villages of Lytsewierrum and Reahus. It runs through farmland where the influence of the sea is still visible in the landscape.
For planning purposes, the starting points differ: Reahus for the Three Churches Route and Easterein for the Swalkroute. The latter is more than ten kilometres long; the former passes through meadows and villages and, after leaving Reahus heading north, follows the Slachtedyk. This makes it possible to distinguish the routes by their starting points and their respective landscape features.
Discover more destinations: Weidum, Bozum, Easterlittens, Mantgum, Wommels, Easterein, Kûbaard
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