The Green Swan
De Groene Zwaan is a former Lutheran church in the historic village of De Rijp in North Holland and has been in use as a cultural centre since the 1960s.
Volunteers organise events for all ages there: live music, film house, literary café, 30+ disco, record fair, walking dinners and lectures are popular with a wide audience and are an exciting addition to the standard offerings in De Rijp and the surrounding area. For young people, De Groene Zwaan offers regular bar nights and splashing parties with house, hip-hop and RnB. Furthermore, the local music and pop music school have found a warm home in De Groene Zwaan.
The swan is the symbol of the Lutheran Church in the Netherlands. Its origins...
Volunteers organise events for all ages there: live music, film house, literary café, 30+ disco, record fair, walking dinners and lectures are popular with a wide audience and are an exciting addition to the standard offerings in De Rijp and the surrounding area. For young people, De Groene Zwaan offers regular bar nights and splashing parties with house, hip-hop and RnB. Furthermore, the local music and pop music school have found a warm home in De Groene Zwaan.
The swan is the symbol of the Lutheran Church in the Netherlands. The origins of this symbolism lie in an old legend: The Czech reformer Johannes Hus, forerunner of the Reformation, who was sentenced to death by the Council of Constance in 1415, is said to have said while he was on the stake: 'Now you are roasting a goose, but in a hundred years a swan will come, which you will not be able to catch'. The Czech name Hus means goose. By the swan, he would have meant Martin Luther (1483- 1546). From the beginning of his appearance, Luther is depicted on engravings and coins with the swan beside him.
The Foundation has a board of six people and has appointed an administrator for the premises. Many volunteers make it possible to continue organising activities and carrying out regular maintenance on the premises.