Foreestenhuis
The imposing wide natural stone facade speaks for itself: the original inhabitants of the Foreestenhuis have been prosperous.
Jacob van Foreest commissioned the construction of this building. He accumulated great wealth during his lifetime. From 1584 until his death he was secretary of the college of the Committed Councils of Westfriesland. He was therefore primarily responsible for the daily management of the Noorderkwartier of North Holland. The college of this organization was located in Hoorn and therefore Jacob spent a large part of his days here.
The wealth of the Van Foreest family did not stop at Jacob. In 1724 the Foreestenhuis was inhabited by one of his descendants: Nanning van Foreest. Nanning was at that time governor of the West India Company, mayor of Hoorn and by far the richest citizen of the city. He showed his power and splendor by placing a new, natural stone facade on the Foreestenhuis.
Not only the material of the façade reveals the wealth of Nanning, there is also a lot of symbolism in it. In the middle of the balcony fence is the monogram of the owner, surrounded by two axes with rod bundles. In classical antiquity this was the symbol of higher magistrates. Nanning also took care of the interior. The vestibule was given a marble floor, walls and ceilings were nicely plastered and the ceiling was decorated with a beautiful painting.
The Foreestenhuis no longer offers shelter to wealthy people, but to church goers: since 1802, the Foreestenhuis houses a church community.