Wow. Spend the night in a church and have the whole room to yourself and your company. 

Many churches in the Netherlands are no longer being used for the purpose for which they were once intended: fewer and fewer people are going to church and, as a result, many of these buildings are becoming vacant. A shame, according to Sanne and Jennemie. So they came up with a new concept: spending the night in a church, or Holy Nights. Both ladies have been actively involved in Dutch heritage for years. They are interested in the redevelopment of historical buildings and with Holy Nights they want to contribute to the social problem of empty church buildings.  

The unique locations of Holy Nights offer a special overnight stay full of peace and relaxation. But they are also great locations for a photo shoot or inspiring business meeting. Not only a special experience, but you also contribute to the survival of the churches and their stories. A large part (40%) of the proceeds will go directly back to the church building.  

From impressively large to cosy 'living room', from Brabant to Groningen. Which one do you choose?  

Twenty minutes' drive from the bustling centre of Groningen, you will find in the countryside The church of Den Ham. Small and cosy and equipped with a kitchenette and toilet. Enjoy the bright blue ceiling from your bed. The church of Noordbroek, Groningen has medieval wall and vault paintings. Here you sleep under a transparent dome. You will feel immediately at home in the cosy church Pieter Stuyvesant in the Frisian town of Peperga. Come here for rest and reflection, or simply for a pleasant get-together with your closest friends. You can also enjoy yourself to the full in Church 1621. A centuries-old building, a cool interior, and the location in the Frisian countryside make this a unique place. The white church from the Middle Ages in Hemrik has a separate bedroom with a view of the church hall and a kitchenette. You will spend the night in the watery village of Oosterwolde in the beautiful listed building of the Village church. In the rural village of Handel, in the province of Brabant, you can sleep in the former Kapelkamer of Monastery The Weyst. You have a whole wing to yourself with your own sitting room, bathroom and kitchenette with cooking facilities. The monastery is also suitable for quiet groups and can be rented for meetings, photo and film shoots. Enjoy romance and peace in the middle of meadows in Friesland at the Kerkje van Peins. Have a divine stay in the picturesque Himelsk church, more than one hundred years old and close to the Frisian waters. Or spend the night in one of the 3 tastefully furnished rooms in a church in Vrouwenpolder, Zeeland.

Spending the night in a church or sleeping in a monastery? Maybe this has been a wish of yours for some time, or maybe you have only just realised how great it is! The church is all yours and your travel companions. Check the facilities and information for each church, as not all churches have a shower, for example. You can find this on the Holy Nights website under the button 'Facilities'. The beautiful photos were taken by Roman Robroek, Rodick Weideveld and the Province of Friesland.