Basilica of Saint Plechelmus

The Basilica of St. Plechelmus is a Catholic church in Oldenzaal and one of the 23 basilicas in the Netherlands. The church is dedicated to Saint Plechelmus, an Irish monk from the 8th century, whose feast day has been mentioned on the ecclesiastical calendar of the diocese of Utrecht since his canonization in the 10th century. Around this date, the patron saint's feast in the Oldenzaal basilica is still celebrated every year.

The oldest parts of the existing building date back to the middle and second half of the 12th century, but the history of the church goes back further. It is possible that as early as the 8th century, the itinerant missionary Plechelmus founded the first church building here, dedicated to Pope Silvester. In 954, Bishop Balderic of Utrecht founded a chapter in Oldenzaal, enlarged and renovated the existing St. Silvester Church, which was now dedicated to Plechelmus, who acquired the status of saint through the elevation of his relics. On this occasion, Balderic had relics of Plechelmus transferred to the church in Oldenzaal. Since then, the Plechelmus Church of Oldenzaal had a high status; In the Middle Ages, for example, the chapter was one of the four chapters outside the city of Utrecht that voted in episcopal elections. Among the many art treasures are a silver bust with relief from 1438. A monstrance from 1500, a choir rag and a pulpit from the Baroque period. And in the tower the largest bell chamber in Europe.

Did you know that more than 1700 skeletons were excavated by archaeologists around the St. Plechelmus Basilica in Oldenzaal? These skeletons were excavated in the former cemetery of the St. Plechelmus Basilica. It is estimated that about 30,000 people were buried here between the 8th and 19th centuries. Researchers are quite wild about this because they offer the possibility of the largest archaeological population study in the Netherlands. For example, they look for diseases, influx of new populations such as the Franks, diets, body size evolution and more.

The church is open for viewing and groups by appointment. More information can be found here: here👈 

routeburo