{"id":8,"date":"2020-10-29T07:38:45","date_gmt":"2020-10-29T07:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.basiliekoudenbosch.com\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2025-08-28T20:25:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T20:25:18","slug":"geschiedenis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.basiliekoudenbosch.com\/en\/about\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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History of the Oudenbosch Basilica<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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From afar you can see the dome of the Oudenbosch Basilica in the landscape so typical for this part of Brabant. But when you're getting closer to the Basilica it gets more and more impressive. With a length of 81 meters, a width of 55 meters and a heigth of 63 meters, this Basilica is a scaled copy of St Peters Basilica in Rome.<\/p>

How did a small town like Oudenbosch with only 3.500 inhabibants in 1865 built this impressive and unique church in the Netherlands?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Lees ook de verhalen van de Basiliek<\/a> voor bijzondere verhalen en extra informatie over deze bijzondere kerk. Hieronder een tijdlijn van de geschiedenis van de Basiliek van Oudenbosch.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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1275 - 1844<\/div><\/div>
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Origin of Oudenbosch<\/div>
\"Agathakerk<\/div>

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In the year 1275, the lord of Breda gifts the grounds of Baerlebosch and Gastele to the Abbey of Hemiksem. These wild grounds with swamps needs cultivation. The monks and brothers start with their work. Through the years, Baerlebosch becomes a trading town for peat. After the Elizabethsflood, which kills thousands in the southwestern part of the Netherlands, Baerlebosch becomes Oudenbosch.<\/p>

In 1425, just 4 years after the Elizabethsflood, a new church, the Agatha church is built. This church will dominate the Oudenbosch' skyline until the 19th century, when the Oudenbosch Basilica is built.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1842<\/div>
Hellemons becomes pastor<\/div><\/div>
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Hellemons becomes pastor<\/div>
\"Willem<\/div>

The young priest Willem Hellemons arrives in Oudenbosch after his priest studies in Rome. When he becomes the new pastor, he is only 32 years old and filled with ambition. During his studies in Rome, he gets inspired by the impressive catholic basilicas such as the St Peter and Saint John of Lateran. When he starts as a pastor, he soon notices the old Agatha church is too small for the fast growing number of catholics in Oudenbosch.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1865<\/div>
Construction commences<\/div><\/div>
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Construction commences<\/div>
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In 1865 the construction starts, but years of planning and designing precedes. Willem Hellemons asks the famous dutch architect Petrus (Pierre) Cuypers to design and build this new parish church. Cuypers, a neogothic architect, prefers a neogothic church over a neoclassicistic church, but Hellemons is persistent, and Cuypers travels to Rome for research. After permission being granted by the bisshop, the construction starts.<\/p>

It takes 15 years, until 1880 to build the churches nave. But this doesn't mean the church is completed. The contrary.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1880<\/div>
Construction completed<\/div><\/div>
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Construction completed<\/div>
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Het voltooien van de kerk behelsde o.a. het afbouwen van de voorgevel en het verfraaien van het interieur. De fa\u00e7ade naar voorbeeld van de Sint Jan van Lateranen \u00e9n de volledige decoratie van de Basiliek moesten nog voltooid worden. Het duurde nog tot 1892, toen G.J. van Swaay de fa\u00e7ade completeerde. Het aanbrengen van schilderingen duurde nog langer. Oudenbosschenaar Kees Raaijmakers was de verantwoordelijk decorateur. Hij was nog tot het eind van de tweede wereldoorlog bezig met decoreren en schilderen. Zo was de kerk een kunststuk in ontwikkeling. Iedere week zagen inwoners de kerk van binnen- en buiten veranderen.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1892<\/div>
Church initiated<\/div><\/div>
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Church initiated<\/div>
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De kerk is ingewijd en in gebruik genomen in 1880. Pas in 1987 is de voltooiing van de Basiliek gevierd.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1911<\/div>
Zouave monument unveiled<\/div><\/div>
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Zouave monument unveiled<\/div>
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De Basiliek van Oudenbosch werd gebouwd in een tijd dat vele Zouaven, strijders voor de Paus in Itali\u00eb via Oudenbosch naar Rome reisden vanuit heel Nederland. Met de bouw van de Basiliek in de laatste fase werd het Zouavenmonument geplaatst op het plein voor de kerk in 1911.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1912<\/div>
Church is initiated as a Basilica<\/div><\/div>
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Church is initiated as a Basilica<\/div>
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The Oudenbosch Basilica wasn't a Basilica up to 1912. During a special service in 1912, the church received the title Basilica Minor. A church receives this title because of its history, beauty or relics in place. It's not the history or relics, but it's special story together with the relation of the Basilica with Rome which gives this church the right to be called a Basilica Minor.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

1912 - now<\/div>
Since 1912<\/div><\/div>
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Since 1912<\/div>
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Het duurde niet lang of het eerste onderhoud diende zich aan. Door de jaren heen zijn het orgel, daken en ook de terrazzovloer gerenoveerd en gerestaureerd. Sinds 1954 is Stichting Behoud Basiliek de organisatie achter het behoud en herstel van de Basiliek. Tezamen met de Stichting Promotie Basiliek zamelen ze geld in door sponsoring, rondleidingen, verhuur, donaties, giften en andere activiteiten om\u00a0 de Basiliek H.H. Agatha en Barbara Oudenbosch in stand te houden.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

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