Church
of OLV Onbevlekt Ontvangen, Waalwijk
To get more
projects in the Netherlands Dom Bellot cooperates with Dutch architects at his
first buildings. He is new here after all, and together with Pierre Cuypers jr.
(grandson of the famous P.J.H. Cuypers, "Rijksmuseum Amsterdam") they
built the church of Onze Lieve Vrouwe Onbevlekt Ontvangen. (Dutch for Imaculée
Conception).
On some
aspects this church is different from what we know of Bellot: The church is
only three parts in length, Bellot uses often more parts, and the parabolic
arch is also not available in this building... Here we see a half-circle arch,
like in the chapel for the Augustinians in Eindhoven, also in collaboration
with this Cuypers. The sanctuary is constructed by Bellot: twelve sides, and it
is said that this sanctuary is based on the plans for the never build church of
the St. Pauls abbey at Oosterhout.
The pulpit
is again made of brick. On the frontside of the church stands a sixteen cornered
tower, in front of a mediaeval looking wall. This tower is similar to the one
of the church of the Sacred Hart at Eindhoven, only smaller.
In the
original plans the sanctuary would have more use of coloured brick. To lower
the costs only a few colours of brick are used.
The church
looks very huge, in spite of its small size. The stained-glass windows of the
nave are designed by Bellot himself.
This church
is nowadays closed for catholic services. In 2007 it was rebuilt into
apartments.
photo's:
a.w.a.lukassen