After a long wait, the spire has finally been returned to the Hobbe van Baerdt Church in Joure. In the early morning light, the spire was hoisted from a pontoon amid the boats in the marina and then transported upright to the town centre.

The spire was originally removed in December 2018 after it was discovered that the common furniture beetle had severely damaged the timber structure of the tower. According to many residents of Joure, the town’s skyline wasn’t complete without the tower, and they had eagerly awaited its return. That enthusiasm was evident in the large turnout—many people even brought their folding chairs to watch the operation.

Yesterday, the spire was transported by pontoon from Sneek to Joure. To carefully complete the restoration of the tower and lantern, the final work will be carried out later today with the help of a crane.