Kerkzaal van de Lutherse kerk in Haarlem 1718

Pieter van den Berge created this print of the Kerkzaal van de Lutherse kerk in Haarlem in the late 17th or early 18th century. It pictures the interior of a Lutheran church, complete with congregants, clergyman, and various symbolic figures. The image suggests a great deal about the social and cultural position of the Lutheran church in the Netherlands at this time. The Lutherans were a minority religion, yet the architecture and dress suggest that they were successful merchants and professionals. We can see this in the design of the church itself, which resembles an assembly hall or courtroom more than a traditional church. The interior is designed to accommodate a large number of people, but it is also designed to be relatively simple and unadorned. These visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations help us better understand the dynamics between the Lutheran Church, its congregation, and the wider Dutch society in this period. We might explore church records, pamphlets, and other printed matter of the time to deepen our understanding of this artwork.