The Kalkhovens

The residents of Huizen met their needs through agriculture for centuries. In 1854, the port was opened and fishing became an important source of income. The closure of the Zuiderzee was a clear turning point; fishing declined sharply and the smoking houses and other fish processing companies closed their doors. The empty buildings attracted new businesses.

At the harbor, four lime kilns were built between 1918 and 1920. The first kiln in 1918, two in 1919, and the fourth and last one in 1920. Three of the towers are 14 to 15 meters high and only the fourth rises above them. Here, shells were burned to produce shell lime. There were sufficient shells lying on the bottom of the IJsselmeer, which were dredged and brought ashore. In the lime kilns, the shells were mixed with coal and burned. The burning took place in high, bottle-shaped kilns, at a temperature of 900 to 1200°C. Over time, unslaked lime remained, which was cooled with water in the slaking house. The end result was slaked lime, which was used in construction as mortar.

From the 1960s onwards, the shell lime industry experienced a declining demand. The Huizen lime kilns operated until the mid-1970s. After that, the owners, the Vos brothers, switched to trading in building materials. The lime kilns were in the way, and around 1988 the owners applied for a demolition permit. The municipality wanted to preserve the kilns; they were not only an industrial monument but also a defining element, especially from the Gooimeer. An application was made for inclusion in the provincial monument list, and this request was granted. The lime kilns were carefully dismantled in 1989, and the municipality of Huizen has stored the towers awaiting a new purpose.

It took a number of years before plans were made for the reconstruction of the kilns. The kilns became part of a larger plan for a restaurant and office and conference space. The municipality of Huizen covered a large part of the reconstruction costs. In 1995, the lime kilns were rebuilt in the Nautical Quarter, a small neighborhood in Zuiderzee style at the head of the Huizer harbor. The lime kilns are part of a celebration and wedding venue.

The Huizen lime kilns are the only building in Huizen with the status of provincial monument.

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