Procession Park

The Handel's Procession Park is an early 20th-century processional park behind the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in the Dutch town of Handel, in the province of North Brabant. Trade has been a place of pilgrimage since at least the 14th century. The chapel built by the Teutonic Knights, the predecessor of the current church, was elevated to the status of rectorate in 1459. In the 18th century, the Handelse Processie (Handelse Procession) was launched, an annual pilgrimage from Valkenswaard to Our Lady of Handel, an image of grace in the Handelse church. At the beginning of the 20th century, rector Johannes van de Laarschot had a new church tower built and the church was extended with side aisles on the east side. He also had the chapels along the Kèskesdijk renovated. In 1904, he took the initiative to create a processional park behind the church, which he believed would promote pilgrimage. He was given permission on the condition that it would not cost the church any money. He raised the necessary money through donations.

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