Petra Berger en Jan Vayne

't Brakenkerkje is a small former church in the centre of Obdam, a village in West Friesland. The building dates from 1880 and is described as an intimate nineteenth century church building. Since it stopped serving as a place of worship it has been put to new uses, and it is now run by a foundation, Stichting Brakenkerkje Obdam, as a nonprofit organisation. It works as a location for weddings and concerts, and it can also be used for meetings. Within Obdam, the Brakenkerkje functions as the main cultural venue in the village. A regional newspaper profile traced how, over roughly twenty years, it grew into what it called a thriving cultural house. That growth was built on programming that gives a stage to artists who are just starting out, while now and then bringing in bigger names as well. The people behind it have said that after two decades they know how to find the artists, and the artists know how to find them, which points to a venue that has built up its own network rather than relying on outside promoters. The atmosphere is the quality most often mentioned. A church of this size seats an audience close to the performers, which suits acoustic sets, singer songwriters and other music that benefits from a quiet room. Touring bands from outside the region have played here too, and at least one group counts it among the venues in its long performing history. Because the same room hosts both ceremonies and concerts, the building keeps something of its original character, with the look of a village church rather than a purpose built club.