Mariakapel Wierden

Mary Chapel Wierden: rest and reflection

Next to the general cemetery on Vriezenveenseweg in Wierden stands a fairy-tale building. Entirely built from Bentheimer sandstone and featuring two heavy, handcrafted oak doors at the front. The Mary Chapel is an unmistakable point of rest in Wierden.

The chapel is not bound to the Catholic Church. Although it is a Mary Chapel and there is a statue of Mary, you do not have to be Catholic to find peace here. Everyone is warmly welcomed for a moment of rest and reflection and to light a candle.

Opened in the Month of Mary

The Mary Chapel Wierden was consecrated on May 26, 2018, in the Month of Mary, by emeritus pastor Jan Oude Vrielink. A priest whose distinctive voice rang out for many years through the Saint John the Baptist Church. The first stone was laid by Mayor Henk Robben on March 11, 2017, and the accompanying commemorative plaque was unveiled on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

The Beginning

For years, Guus Oude Nijeweme had the idea of building a Mary Chapel. Those plans became concrete when it turned out that the land next to his current home had no specific destination. It soon became clear that the support for building a Mary Chapel among the Wierden population was large. To move towards actual execution, it was decided to establish the Foundation Mary Chapel Wierden. The foundation has been well informed by the builders of the Mary Chapel in Tilligte. The resemblance is therefore great.

Statue of Mary

The search for the statue of Mary, which is the main focus, was successfully concluded in Italy. A large statue with a child was found, made according to the medieval Byzantine icon of Mary. The statue, 1.60 meters tall, was donated by a benefactor from Wierden. The marble, the travertine window sills, the altar, and the bridal bench come from an empty church in Apeldoorn. The stained glass windows depict the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water, and were made by Wierden resident Tinus Berg. The incoming light displays beautiful color shades. The chapel is under-pinned for storage, and beautiful flower beds have been laid around the building. The bench provides a rest point for cyclists. The chapel is completed with an angelus bell on top of the roof that rings on special occasions. From the General Cemetery, there is a nice walking path to the Mary Chapel.

Opening Hours

The chapel is accessible every day from 08:00 in the morning until sunset.

Mariakapel Wierden