Councillors in Zeeland have approved building plans for the largest Protestant church in the Netherlands, reports Omroep Zeeland.

Reimerswaal municipal council voted for the €13 million building by ten votes to eight late on Tuesday night in Yerseke.

The church will have room for 2,000 worshippers, more than a quarter of the village’s population. The orthodox SGP party had argued this size was needed to accommodate the growing, local Dutch reformed community.

The plans had been controversial, with criticism from local party Leefbaar Reimerswaal for the ‘colossal’ size of the building, near Yerseke Moer nature area.

During the council meeting, there was reportedly much discussion around the integrity of Jaap Sinke, deputy major, local head of the SGP and a church member. He had always claimed to be acting properly.