"Mariakerk - a national monument" Top 5 Page for this destination Apeldoorn Off The Beaten Path Tip by vtveen

The Mariakerk is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption is commonly called St. Mary's Church. She is the first and long time the only Catholic church in Apeldoorn; was built in 1895 and in 1898 put into service. The building is a fine example of Gothic Revival, the style format of Catholic churches expressing a reliving of the medieval Gothic.
The ship was built after a design of architect J.W. Boerbooms. In 1901 began the second phase, the construction of a transept and a choir, designed by the architects J.Th.J. Cuypers and J. Stuyt. The third phase, a 70m high west tower was never built due to a lack of money.

Although being a national monument I never really visited the Mariakerk - or as it is officially named ‘Onze Lieve Vrouwe Ten Hemelopneming’ - in my hometown; especially because it has limited opening hours for visitors, beside its regular services and during special events.
But they opened the church this year (2010) for visitors on Saturdays in July and August.

I often had seen the rather sober and basic exterior of the church, partly hidden behind a modern apartment complex, but I was really surprised by the beauty of its interior. The church is rather bright and has a offers a kind of warmth with its colours and brick ceilings.
The walls of the aisles do have wonderful Stations of the Cross, painted by Wynand Geraerdts. He also painted the murals above the arches. Throughout the church there are even more paintings and a couple of wonderful stained-glass windows.
At the end of the church stands the beautiful (old) high altar, made by Friedrich Wilhelm Mengelberg.

I could visit the ‘Schatkamer’ accompanied by one of the volunteers. This ‘Treasury Room’ is located on the first floor and has a lot of religious artefacts - bibles, crosses, clothes and other knick-knacks - from the parish.
At the entrance of the church is a small ‘shop’ with information and photos of the church.

Information
Opening hours (hope they will continue to open the church for visitors):
Saturdays in July and August 11.00 am - 2.00 pm and during special events, (music) performances and the regular services.

Direction: Hoofdstraat 20, Apeldoorn; nearby the railway station of Apeldoorn.

Website: http://www.rkapeldoorn.nl/emmausparochie/parochiekerk