Church of Our Lady of the Assumption - Zutendaal

Zutendaal has been a place of pilgrimage to the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary for a very long time.

According to legend , the first church was originally built in the hamlet of Mandel. But then every morning it was found that the already built part had been demolished again. A farmer had seen a light in a nearby place and suggested that we give this place a try. The strange light might be a sign. During the excavations that were started at this place, the image was found . This would then be the place where the current Church of Our Lady is located.

Every year on August 15, many people still come to Zutendaal on a pilgrimage to pray for their health.

At the beginning of the 13th century , a Romanesque church was built, of which the substructure of the choir has been preserved. At the beginning of the 14th century, the early Gothic west tower and the central nave were built.

In 1598 the church was set on fire by warbands . It is likely that the current vault and upper part of the choir were built afterwards. Restoration work was also carried out in the 18th century.

The church was built in marlstone on a plinth of quarry stone.
Two baroque confessionals, from 1671 and 1731, are present. The pulpit dates from 1670. The 15th-century late Gothic baptismal font is made of bluestone. The altars are in neo-Gothic style.

The miraculous statue of Our Lady of Zutendaal Heil der Kranken is a 16th-century polychrome oak statue that is the goal of many pilgrims. There is also a 15th-century triumphal cross and a statue of Saint Roch from around 1700.

Paintings hang in the aisles.

Willem Vandenameele