Basilicas in Northern and Central Netherlands

Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Laren, North Holland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1937.

The Basilica of St. John the Baptist was constructed in a Neo-Gothic style between 1924 and 1925.  The church was built with red bricks and has two 165-foot towers.  Seven stained glass windows were made by one artist and five depict the life of St. John the Baptist.

From Wikipedia.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Bavo, Haarlem, North Holland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1948.

The Cathedral Basilica was built between 1895 and 1930 to replace an earlier cathedral for the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam.  The building employs both Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque styles, with aspects of Moorish and Indian styles as well.  It was consecrated in 1898 and is the second largest Catholic church in the Netherlands. 

The first picture is from Expedia, the second from Pinterest, and the last two from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Plechelm, Oldenzaal, Overijssel

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1950.

The sandstone Basilica is named for the Irish monk who established the parish in the 8th Century.  The current Romanesque church was built in the last half of the 12th Century.  The Gothic tower was completed around 1500.  Protestants took control of the building after the Reformation, but because they were few in number, maintenance was often neglected.  King Louis Napoleon returned the church to Catholics in 1810 who began restoration.

The first picture is from Flickr and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Walburg, Arnhem, Gelderland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964. 

The Gothic Basilica of St. Walburg dates to the late 14th Century, although it was mostly destroyed in the Second World War and then rebuilt.  Unfortunately, it ceased being a church in 2013 and the title of basilica is no longer applicable.  The towers have been converted to a luxury hotel and the nave to an exhibition space.

Both are from Wikipedia.

St. Nicholas Basilica, Ijsselstein, Utrecht

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1972.

The Neo-Gothic St. Nicholas Basilica was built between 1885 and 1887.  Friedrich Mengelberg sculpted the main altar, one side altar, the Triumphal Cross, and the Stations of the Cross.  The Basilica is a place of pilgrimage because of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Eiteren, Help in Need, which dates to the 13th Century.

The top picture is from Pinterest and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Lidwina and Our Lady of the Rosary, Schiedam, South Holland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1990.

The brick and stone Basilica was built in 1881 in a Neo-Gothic style.  It honors St. Lidwina and Virgin Mary.  St. Lidwina (1380-1433) fell while ice skating at the age of 15 and broke a rib.  Her health rapidly deteriorated.  Her legs were paralyzed by the time she was 19 and she suffered pain, bleeding, and poor vision the rest of her life.  It is said that she even lost skin and bones and even parts of her intestines.  Some medical authorities believe she is one of the earliest documented cases of multiple sclerosis.  She fasted frequently and gained a reputation as a holy woman, healer, and mystic.  She had some periods of remission, but died at the age of 52.  She is the patron saint of ice skaters and the chronically ill.  The Virgin Mary appeared to Lidwina when she was a child and told her she would suffer much, but that the Lord would give her the grace to manage the pain and suffering.  

The Basilica has four paintings depicting the life of St. Lidwina and ten stained glass windows illustrating the Joyful and Glorious mysteries of the Rosary.  The remains of St. Lidwina are in a Neo-Gothic reliquary in front of the main altar.  The reliquary is made of gilded copper with red and green semi-precious stones. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Raalte, Overijssel

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

The Neo-Gothic Basilica was built in 1891-1892.  The 260-foot tall tower has a carillon.

The top picture is from the Basilica website and the bottom picture is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Lambert, Hengelo, Overijssel

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997.

The Neo-Gothic Basilica was built between 1888 and 1890 to replace an earlier church.  The tower rises 260 feet.  The church was damaged during the Second World War but has been restored.

The first two pictures are from the Basilica website and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Zwolle, Overijssel

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

The Basilica was built between 1394 and 1540.  In 1580, after the Protestant Reformation, the building was converted to secular purposes.  It was not returned to the Catholic Church until 1809.  The Basilica has been the burial site, since 2006, of Thomas a Kempis, 15th Century priest and theologian.

The first picture is from the Basilica website, the second is from TripAdvisor, and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Pancratius, Tubbergen, Overijssel

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

The Neo-Gothic Basilica was completed in 1897 to replace an earlier church.  The sandstone tower dates to the 16th Century.  The Basilica has 35 stained-glass windows made by five generations of the same family.

Pictures are from Flickr and Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. George, Almelo, Overijssel

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. 

The Neo-Gothic Basilica was completed in 1902 and the 240-foot tower was completed in 1903.

The first picture is from the Basilica website and the second from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Nicholas, Amsterdam, North Holland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

The Basilica of St. Nicholas was built in the 1880s using several architectural styles, primarily Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance.  The Basilica has a dome and two towers.  Between the towers is a rose window.  There are several murals with religious themes and above the main altar is the crown of Maximilian I—the early 16th Century Holy Roman Emperor.

The first two pictures are from the Basilica website, the third is from Pinterest, and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Callixtus, Groenlo, Gelderland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2014.

The brick Basilica was built between 1906 and 1908 in a Neo-Gothic style, although the interior was not completed until the 1930s.  The church bells were taken by the Germans in 1943 and melted.  They were replaced in 1947.

The first picture is from the basilica website and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Francis, Bolsward, Friesland

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2016.

The Basilica was built between 1933 and 1934 using an Art Deco style.  The exterior uses stone and brick in decorative styles.  The interior features glazed masonry stones in different colors used in large parabolic arches.  A chapel contains a 13th Century wooden Madonna. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.