Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

Roman Catholic St. Willibrordus Church in Oude Pekela. Replaced an earlier barn church from 1783. Important, iconic church with a high tower. Particularly in terms of interior, with the monumental decoration and inventory from the Mengelberg studio in Utrecht, richly detailed neo-Gothic church. Typical and characteristic work in the oeuvre of N. Molenaar (1850-1930), pupil of Pierre Cuypers (1827 - 1921). Restoration 1988. Still in use as Roman Catholic parish church. This church (1895, N.Molenaar) has been restored and has (also) been given a multicultural purpose. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

The Sint-Willibrorduskerk in Kloosterburen is a neo-Gothic church building, designed by PJH Cuypers. The church replaced an earlier Catholic church from 1842, which soon proved to be too small. The church was built by the parish itself.

The church building dates from 1941, which was of course a strange time to build a church. On the other hand, it was not yet known at that time whether the German occupation would be permanent.

Historic village church with tower (tower circa 1480).

The current church dates from 1860 and is a typical work in the oeuvre of HJ Wennekers, built under the influence of the so-called stucco Gothic style.

Late neo-Gothic church with historic tower.

The Roman Catholic St. Willibrordus Church was built in 1913-1914 to a design by Wolter te Riele (1867 - 1937) from Deventer and executed by contractor A. de Boer from Coevorden. The building is constructed in a simple neo-Gothic style. The interior paintings applied in 1925 by Fa. Cuypers from Roermond have disappeared. The interior is not protected.

In 1841 a parish was founded and a church built. Since 1885 Sint Willebrord has been a place of pilgrimage. In that year a first Lourdes grotto was built. In 1925 a new church was built. The original design by pastor Bastiaansen, a representation of the Basilica of Lourdes, was elaborated by the architect Jacques (NJH) van Groenendael from Breda. In front of the church is a procession park.

Iconic neo-Gothic church with a tower placed sideways, next to the choir. Around 1900, the church from 1772 became too small and it was decided to build a new church and parsonage. The architectural firm Cuypers/Stuyt was commissioned to do this. Father Cuypers was the builder of the Central Station and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Son Cuypers built the new St. Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem. The Holy Willibrord Church was therefore not built by just anyone. The church is a fine example of neo-Gothic church architecture from that period.

1500 Construction of a new choir and the current tower begins, 1542 Construction of the tower interrupted by the raid of Maarten van Rossum., 1648 Church taken into use by Protestants (Catholics use a barn church), 1820 Church returned to Catholics and restored, 1909 Church demolished except for the old tower