Sint Plechelmusbasiliek

In Oldenzaal you will find the Sint-Plechelmus basilica, one of the 23 basilicas in the Netherlands. The story goes that the itinerant missionary Plechelmus founded a church here in the 8th century. In 954 this church was renovated and relics of Plechelmus, which had meanwhile obtained the status of saint, were transferred to the church. Around 1150 the church was exchanged for a new church of Bentheim sandstone in Westphalian Romanesque style. Some parts of the current church still remain from this time. The current tower was built around 1240. Between 1633 and 1810 the church was in the hands of the Protestant community, but later the Catholics got the church back. Several restorations followed because the church had fallen into disrepair. Especially during the restoration between 1891 and 1900, many adjustments were made in and around the church. In 1950 the church received the honorary title of 'basilica'. The basilica still serves as a home for the masses of the Plechelmus parish.