Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

During the Reformation, the Catholics in this region were served by Jesuits from Nijkerk. Services were held in 't Veen in the 'Sandhuysken'. Later, the residents of 't Veen came under Hoogland and went to church in Hoogland (an hour and a quarter's walk) or Amersfoort (no less than 1 to 2 hours' walk). Around 1853, the desirability of establishing a separate parish for this part of Hoogland and Hoevelaken was first mentioned. Due to all kinds of difficulties, the plans for a separate parish could not be realised until 1917. The population of Hooglanderveen had increased in the meantime, partly due to the construction of the railway. This increase in families also caused problems with regard to catechism education for children who had to travel far too far for this.

The St. Joseph Chapel in Melissant was put into use on 14 November 1900. Until then, the Roman Catholics of the village had to rely on the parish church in Middelharnis. The construction of the chapel and residence was financed by the diocese of Haarlem, under which the South Holland islands belonged at the time, from a legacy received from the estate of Baron RHI van Brienen and from several creations. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

Replaced old church from 1917, which was demolished due to mine damage. Construction followed in 1957. Consecration 26 June 1960 by mgr. Moors. Important work in the oeuvre of JJ Fanchamps (1912-1982): hall church, built in concrete skeleton construction and Kunrade stone, covered by curved shell roofs. To the left of the front facade is a semi-detached tower. The side facades are externally provided with a loggia, to support the shell roof. Remarkable and innovative example of Roman Catholic church construction after the war, especially due to the wide span of the nave. The front facade contains reliefs by W. van Hoorn, representing the Holy Trinity, the four evangelists and the twelve apostles. As an important example of Roman Catholic church construction from the reconstruction period, the church was nominated in 2007 and later designated as a national monument in the context of the reconstruction top hundred.

With elements of Neo-Romanesque, in 1927, to a design by architect Joseph Franssen from Roermond, a CATHOLIC CHURCH was built in honour of Saint Joseph. The architect was Johannes Duijf and the contractor was Fincken from Stevensweert. The church is connected to the adjacent rectory on the right side, and on the left and rear side is the Catholic cemetery. This church is listed as a National Monument of the Netherlands.

On the site of the former Roman Catholic Chapel of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart . Damaged by war in 1944. Restored.

The neo-Gothic CHAPEL on the Roman Catholic cemetery behind the Roman Catholic church St. Joseph on the Hamersveldseweg was built in 1916 to a design by the architect H. Kroes. The chapel is situated at the end of the main axis in the south-eastern corner of the cemetery. The chapel has a floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross and has a basement. The roof, covered with slates in Maasdekking, consists of two intersecting saddle roofs with a roof turret at the intersection. A zinc finial has been placed on the four ridge ends. The facades are built of gray brick in cross bond. The four gables are flanked by a cut buttress that ends in a pinnacle. The pinnacles are provided with a crowning with a chevron-shaped ornament similar to that on the entrance gate to the cemetery. The front (west side) contains a large pointed arch opening with a frame in red brick. Above the opening is a medallion with a representation of the resurrection of Christ. Around the medallion and along the roof edge is a band of decorative brickwork in red brick. A partly natural stone pavement leads to the opening, closed off by a two-winged, rotating iron bar gate with a narrow, fixed fence on either side. The connecting posts of the gate are crowned with ornaments in Art Nouveau style. The central post is provided with a cross.

The St. Josef Church is a Roman Catholic Church built in 1910 and expanded in 1932.

The Roman Catholic community in Rozenburg has existed since about 1955. In the mid-fifties, there were indeed some Catholics living in Rozenburg, but they belonged to the parish of Brielle. Because Brielle was quite far away, the pastor of Maassluis was the designated pastor for the Rozenburg Catholics.

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.

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