The Ulrum-born Egbert Reitsma (1892-1976) was an associate of the famous Rotterdam architect Willem Kromhout, among others, in his younger years. There his great talent was recognized. In the early 1920s, Reitsma established himself as an independent architect in the city of Groningen. In the years leading up to World War II, he made a name for himself primarily as a church builder. The Reformed churches in Appingedam, Bedum and Leeuwarden are examples of this, as is the demolished Parklaankerk in Groningen. In addition to churches, Reitsma also designed villas, country houses, apartment blocks, stores with upstairs apartments and commercial buildings, including in Haren, Glimmen and Winsum, but especially in the city of Groningen. Among the utility buildings, the much-praised design of the Noorder Sanatorium of the psychiatric institution Dennenoord in Zuidlaren should not go unmentioned. After the war, Reitsma designed dozens more buildings; his last work was the Reformed church of Hoogezand from 1969.