"Smakt, unknown but nr. 1 pelgrimsplace in NL" Smakt by Pavlik_NL

Smakt Travel Guide: 8 reviews and 27 photos

Saint Josef, guiding his son the way - Smakt

Saint Josef's chapel, for all parents a must

Smakt is a realy tiny village in the Southern province of The Netherlands: Limburg. It consists of no more then a few dozain buildings surrounding a chapel, a church and a monastry. Still these last three attract every year between 50.000 and 60.000 pelgrims! Smakt is situated in the Northern half of Limburg in agricultural environment. It's very quite (accept for the trains that rush by) and attracts to overthink things or pray. Therefor this location is well choosen as pelgrimage-spot.

The chapel of Saint Josef

Smakt and it's chapel, undevidable

The middle point is the chapel of Saint Josef, one of the few in the world. It dates back to the year 1699 and is quite simple and small. Unique is that his image is here attached to "the principle of a merry lifestyle" and he is the patriot saint of all fathers, as well as parents of difficult children. Across the street there are several parkingplaces for the pelgrims that arrive - in these modern ages - also by car.

Saint Josef, for all fathers of the world

Saint Josef also was a carpenter ... (-:

Now Ilja definately isn't a difficult child, but here I (again) felt how much I love my little boy. Seeing Saint Josef guiding his son Jezus Christ, I felt proud to have the opportunity to do the same with Ilja. I trusted some lines to the book that was laying there and burned a candle as prolongation of my prayer. Later - when Ilja is a little bigger - I will take him there for sure.

Intro Written Sep 10, 2003
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Reviews (8)

Memorial stone next to the chapel - Smakt

Not accidently in the province Limburg Local Customs (1)

Limburg can easily be called the most religious province in The Netherlands. The majority of the people here is Roman... more travel advice

Welcome in the pelgrims place Smakt - Smakt

Smakt, municipality of Venray in Limburg Favorites (1)

Not many maps will show you where Smakt is, but roughly it is situated between Venray and Venlo in the Northern part of... more travel advice

The chapel seen from the parkinglot - Smakt

Car, bicycle or traditional ... by... Transportation (1)

Smakt is the number one pelgrimage place in The Netherlands. It's small Saint Josef's chapel draws every year 50.000 to... more travel advice

A little river goes straight through Smakt. - Smakt

The peaceful environment of Smakt Things to Do (4)

Northern Limburg is definately not the most visited part of The Netherlands, if it is about foreign tourists I even... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
For all those pelgrims that get thirsty...

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Comments (3)

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OlafS Apr 6, 2004 at 11:53 AM

The old church of Smakt was badly damaged in World War Two, repaired later but in 1967 demolished and replaced by the modern church, probably because the old one was rather small.
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huib-jose Sep 13, 2003 at 1:52 AM

These little unknown places keep amazing and surprising everyone. Such personal page! Thanks, Paul
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danitsja_nl Sep 10, 2003 at 1:35 PM

Heeee intresting page ( : a Smak for all the fathers and the little Son. Danitsja