Gezicht op Huis Herlaar en Tienhoven 1750

Jan de Beijer sketched this view of Huis Herlaar en Tienhoven using pen in the 18th century, and watercolored it in grey. Dominating the skyline, the church spire acts as a symbolic guidepost, a visual echo that has resonated across centuries. The spire, reaching heavenward, shares a lineage with ancient obelisks and minarets, all embodiments of humanity’s yearning for the divine. Think of the Tower of Babel, a monument not just of ambition but of spiritual aspiration, or the Egyptian pyramids, directing the pharaoh's soul towards the sun god Ra. This impulse transcends eras and cultures, reappearing in the Gothic cathedrals of Europe and even modern skyscrapers. It’s a collective memory etched in our subconscious, driving us to build ever higher. Each spire, whether reaching for God or piercing the clouds, taps into this deep well of human ambition. A timeless symbol, evolving yet ever-present.