Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

Neo-Gothic church with tower. Original design by architect P. Soffers.

In the western district of Kaalheide. Beautiful, original, monumental church with tower and roof turret. The history of the St. Joseph's Church in Kerkrade, Kapelweg 5, is closely linked to the development of the Kaalheide district. Kaalheide was a rural area until the 1920s, but due to industrialization in the region, the population of Kerkrade grew rapidly. In 1922, Kaalheide became an independent parish and it was decided to build a new church. The architect of the church was Hubert van Groenendael, a prominent architect from Roermond. He designed a neo-Romanesque church with a basilica floor plan. The church has a tower of 45 meters high. Construction of the church began in 1926 and was completed in 1928. The church was consecrated on September 11, 1928 by the bishop of Roermond, mgr. JJ Lemmens.

As of August 1, 2002, the St. Joseph parish, the OLVrouw Hemelvaart parish and the parish of the Blessed Sacrament were merged into one parish with the new name H. Antonius. Remarkable, because John the Baptist is the patron saint of Gouda. These three church buildings would remain, according to the reports at the time, and on Sunday, September 15, 2002, the first celebration of the new parish was held. But already in November 2002 it was announced that maintaining all three church buildings would be impossible for financial reasons. Which church would ultimately remain in use was not yet known at that time.

Before the war, there were already plans to replace the previous neo-Gothic pilgrimage church from 1886 with a new building. The intention was to be able to put a new church into use in 1949 - then the Smakt would have been a place of pilgrimage for 250 years. However, these plans led to nothing. However, the rectorate of De Smakt was transferred to the Discalced Carmelites in 1949. The existing church was renovated. In 1965 it became clear that the old church was becoming too small. The new church would have to have at least 200 seats with wide aisles and plenty of standing room with a view to the pilgrims. Money had been collected for a new church since 1963. The pilgrims donated approximately 100,000 guilders in three years. In 1966, the Carmelites approached architect JJ Fanchamps to draw up the new building plans. The foundation stone was laid on 24 June 1968, after which contractor Koenen from Holthees completed the church, so that it could be blessed by Mgr. Beel on 11 March 1969. The new church is connected to the Carmelite monastery. De Smakt is the only place of pilgrimage in the Netherlands where St. Joseph is specifically venerated. Every year, around 20,000 people visit De Smakt, especially in the month of March, to venerate St. Joseph. The pilgrimage complex currently consists of the Joseph Chapel (1699), procession park (ca. 1900), the Pilgrim House (1910), the Carmelite monastery (1949) and the Joseph Church (1969). The Pilgrim House should have been demolished to create a better entrance and improve the view of the church, but this plan was not carried out due to a lack of finances. Something similar applied to the monastery: only half of it was built.

Modern hall church without tower from 1959-1960, built at the former mining colony of Egge in Brunssum-Oost.

Important church in neo-Gothic-expressionist style, designed by Joseph Cuypers (1861 - 1949) and his son Pierre Cuypers Jr (1891 - 1982). Originally a chancel and nave with four bays, without a tower but with a roof turret on the west side.

The current Roman Catholic St. Joseph Church replaced a neo-Gothic church designed by AAJ Margry, which had become too small. It is a rectangular hall church with a semi-detached tower, in Bossche School style.

Large characteristic W. te Riele church with tower. The interior of the Roman Catholic St. Joseph church (1922, Wolter te Riele, extension 1927, renovation 1993) is split. The half on the choir side is still a church. The half on the tower is equipped for childcare.

Roman Catholic St. Joseph Church from 1876. Sober single-nave neo-Gothic cruciform church with front tower. One of the seven churches that architect Pierre Cuypers built in Friesland. Interior largely from the construction period of the church. The windows were made by F. Nicolas. Single-manual organ with free-standing console from 1904, made by Joh. Hilboesen (Amsterdam).

Architecturally important, striking, interbellum church, built in two phases. Extension, with among other things saddle roof tower, built in 1938. The organ was moved from the gallery, at the bottom of the tower, to the choir of the church. On the left in the hall, at the bottom of the tower, is a beautiful small Marianis, with altar, accessible daily.