The Oostkerk, or East Church was the first church in Middelburg that was constructed specially for Protestant services. The plans for the church began in 1644, and involved several architects, including Bartholomeus Drijfhout, Pieter Post, and Arent van ’s Gravezande. The church is of a grand design, and was financed mostly by taxes raised on beer – something which brought in a lot of money in 17th century Middelburg, as the water was so dirty that everyone, even children, lived on beer instead.