(photograph © Kiwidutch)
The Catholic Church known by it’s official and less official names” ”De kerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Onbevlekt-Ontvangen” (Our Blessed Lady of the Immaculate Conception) “Elandstraatkerk” (Eland Street church) or “Elandkerk” (Eland Church) is situated opposite the Elandplein (Eland Square) in The Hague’s Zeeheldenkwartier.
I found several websites that had information on the church, but only in the Dutch language, so I’ve made a translation of some of the Dutch language Wiki information and put the link to the website below if anyone is interested in reading the origonal.
It was built in 1891-92 by architect Nicolaas Molenaar because the smaller, “ Teresia van Avilakerk”( Teresia of Avila Church) had grown too small due to rapid population growth in The Hague during the 1800′s.
The city was growing outwards in the direction of the Zeeheldenkwartier, so this is where it was decided that the new church should be built. The area being built on was a former peat polder (low-lying, reclaimed land) that had Paleis Noordeinde to the Laan Van Meerdervoort, The Beeklaan and Noordwal as it’s perimeters.
in 1877 Father Marijnen of the Teresia van Avilakerk bought the site from Sophie van Sachsen-Weimar, the only daughter of King William II. In 1878 a tempory church and vicarage were built and on the 5th June 1978, the tempory church became an independent parish church.
In 1890 there were plans to build a new church designed by the same architect. The new church, designed by Nicolaas Molenaar (Sr.) is in the Neo-Gothic style and inspired by the Notre Dame in Paris.
The two western towers are 72 metres high each and the church is 60 m long. There are 66 stained glass windows dating from the end of the 19th century and on the outside of the western entrance there’s a staue of Maria of Immaculate conception, donated in 1893 by the conference of church women.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Huge clocks were placed in each tower and in 1892 a parishioner donated an angelusklokje ( a special clock that rings twice a day to bring Catholics to mass) In 1928 these were replaced by four other clocks but the Protestant people living in in close proximity to the church didn’t like the bells, so after complaints it was decided not to ring them during the singing of the Te Deum.
The Rose window broke in a severe storm, a bomb falling in Da Costastraat broke a few windows, but happily this was the only World War II damage that the church sustained. The angelusklok was replaced in 1949.
After the war the building needed repairs and the klockstoelen (clock seats?) were in such bad shape that artificial sound of bells were played until 1992 when they were repaired.
The Franssen organ was installed in 1906
The organ is encased in a Neo-Gothic sculpted housing against the west wall and is about 10 metres high (about 30 feet) . The organ was restored in 1973 back to functional playing order and again repaired in 1986 but underwent full restoration in 2010-2011. Since 2004 the organ has been listed as a National Monument.
Elandstraat 194 — 2513GX — Den Haag.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elandkerk
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
