Sanctuaries in Maassluis

Most locations are located in the center of Maassluis. But also in Maassluis-West you can find a number of different religious buildings. Including the eye-catching Roman Catholic church along the Westlandseweg. And how about a Moroccan Mosque right next to the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Everything is possible in Maassluis.
Many buildings are still used by active and vibrant faith communities.

You can start the route at the car park at PC Hooftlaan
Peter and Paul Church (1967- 2007) PC Hooftlaan 7
Due to the post-war housing construction, the population of Maassluis grew in the following years. The number of Roman Catholics also increased and the Schuurkerk gradually became too small for the increasing number of parishioners. In 1965 it was decided to solve this problem by building a new church and dividing the parish.
In Maassluis-West, the Andreas parish was founded with an emergency church on Korhoenstraat, later in the socio-cultural meeting center Koningshof.
For the remaining part of the parish, a new church was built on the PC Hooftlaan. This became the new Peter and Paul Church. The building included a church building, complex of halls and a rectory. The commissioning of the building took place on April 7, 1967.
Around 1990 it became clear that secularization and the decreasing number of priests would eventually have negative consequences for the existence of both parishes in Maassluis and a merger was decided on January 1, 1995. As a final element, a new church building was built for the parish and in June 2007 dedicated. The building on PC Hooftlaan was sold to the municipality. Demolition work soon started and on December 8, 2007 the last stone was demolished and the site was converted into a parking lot.

The demolition has made the Schuurkerk more visible.

Peter and Paul Church ( Schuurkerk) (1788-1967) Schuurhof 142
Initially, Roman Catholics worshiped in the wooden chapel at the Monstersch Sluis.
When it burned down in 1573 during the skirmishes between the Spaniards and the Geuzen and the Kleine Kerk replaced it 3 years later, the Reformation was also a fact in Maassluis. From then on, the Roman Catholics had to keep their services in secret. Later they could go to the neighboring municipality of Maasland.
It was not until 1787 that it was allowed to build a private church. It had to be built on the village border without being visible from the public road. The church was therefore not given a tower and the presbytery was built in front of it, so that the entrance was at the rear. The dedication takes place late in 1788. The patron saints are Peter and Paul.
In 1826 the church is provided with a tower. It was not until 1960 that the church came into view due to the demolition of the surrounding buildings. In the night of June 15 to 16, 1962, a fire caused considerable damage to the church and the organ.
Not long after that, in 1967, a new church was consecrated and the Schuurkerk was put out of use. A period of decay follows until the building is used as a theatre. Nowadays, various activities take place in the Schuurkerkje

Continue walking to Jan Luykenstraat. Then walk out of the Jan Luykstraat. On the corner with the GA Brederolaan is the Maranathakerk 

Maranathakerk (1962- present) GA Brederolaan 49
The Maranathakerk was built in 1962 as the third church building for the Reformed Church in Maassluis. It is a building with a spacious square church hall and a large number of classrooms for smaller-scale activities. Next to the church is a slender stone bell tower. There is a Seifertorgel in the church, just like in the Immanuel Church. Due to the declining number of members, the building was disposed of in 1997 and sold to the Evangelical Church'De Kandelaar\\\'. He carried out major changes in the church space, whereby the organ was dismantled and sold to the Immanuël Church in De Bilt. The pulpit was removed and a spacious stage was created with a sunken bath for baptisms.
On March 30, 2003, the Evangelical Church of Maasdijk and the Evangelical Church of De Kandelaar from Maassluis continued together as the Evangelical Church of Maranatha. In 2007 the Free Evangelical Congregation of Maeslantsluys joined the EGMA and in 2009 the Rafael Congregation from Maassluis joined them.
In 2011, the square between the church hall and the outbuildings was roofed over to create an atrium that functions as a reception area for the growing congregation. 

Walk past the Maranathakerk on the GA Brederolaan until you reach the PC Hooftlaan. Turn left there and cross Laan 40-45. Straight on through the Mesdaglaan there you will find the De Ark.

The Ark (1974- present) Rembrandtlaan 2
Founded in 1974 as Dutch Reformed Church. It is a hall church with adjoining space, without a tower, but with a belfry. Remarkably placed on a pond in the middle of a lot of greenery. Until 1998, members of the Dutch Reformed Church also worshiped in the church.
In 1997, after the sale of the Maranatha Church, the Reformed joined the reformed district municipality and the together-on-the-road municipality of De Ark was created, which later merged in 2008 into the Protestant district municipality of De Ark. Due to a reorganization in the Protestant municipality of Maassluis, the district municipality of De Ark and Immanuelkerk were merged and De Ark was no longer used for church services. The building was sold to the Dutch Reformed Church, who had already become acquainted with it. The bell tower was removed, but more drastic was the complete renovation on the inside, which gave the building a completely new layout and appearance.

Walk back via the Mesdaglaan, cross the Laan 40-45 again and walk through the PC Hooftlaan. At the intersection with the GA Brederolaan, turn left and then walk straight ahead to the Witte Kerkje .

White Church (1951- present) Constantijn Huygensstraat 1
There are some buildings that have something special. For example, they have a high tower, they can call themselves a national monument, they are beautifully decorated and determine the image of a city. Unfortunately, the White Church does not fall under these headings. Yet this church, which stands somewhere in a residential area in Maassluis, has something very special. It has a very large circle of friends. A group of more than a hundred people with an active board, called the Friends of the White Church, has set itself the goal of promoting the preservation and use of the church. Together with the Het Witte Kerkje Foundation, the'Friends\\\' are committed to the continued existence of this unique building.

The Witte Kerkje was built in 1951 to a design by architect SJ van Embden, commissioned by the then Dutch Protestant Bond department of Maassluis. It is a fine example of architecture in the Reconstruction period. Rightly so, this building is on the list of municipal monuments. In 2007-2008, a major renovation took place, in particular the adjoining room, hall and kitchen were completely renovated, making the Witte Kerkje better prepared for the various activities that take place there. In addition to church services, concerts and lectures are also held here. A glass foyer has now been built between the church hall and the vestry, which forms the main entrance. A new kitchen, a toilet group with facilities for people with a physical disability and a meeting room have been installed. Furthermore, the roof of the vestry has been repaired, as well as the paving in the garden.

From 2014, the name of the religious community that uses the White Church will be changed to: Free-spirited center'De Witte Herberg\\\' Maassluis.

Walk through the Damstraat and turn left into the Van Emdenstraat. You will arrive at Van der Horststraat. Turn left until you reach the Zuiddijk. On top of the Zuiddijk, go straight ahead into Fenacoliusslaan. There you will find 2 inconspicuous religious buildings.  

Baptisten Fenacoliuslaan 16

Mosque Arrahman Fenacoliuslaan 37
This is the second small Moroccan mosque in Maassluis.

Exit the Fenacoliusslaan and turn right, before the Koepaardbrug you turn right again onto the Haven. Walk straight ahead until you reach the Zuiddijk. There you turn left into the Hoogstraat.

Kleine Kerk (1598-1966) Hoogstraat 12
Around 1500 there was a wooden chapel inside the dike at the Monstersche Sluis, dedicated to Saint Martinus. This chapel went up in flames in 1573 during the fighting between the Geuzen and the Spaniards. A stone church was built on the same place in 1576 and because the Reformation was also completed in Maassluis, it was used as a Protestant church. In 1756 the church was thoroughly renovated. What is special is that under the church, which has its entrance at the level of the Maasdijk (Hoogstraat), there has always been a school (and the schoolmaster's house). The school was accessible from the school yard.

In the 1960s, the church was sold to the Delfland Water Board, which requested a demolition permit from the Ministry of Culture, Recreation and Social Work. That application was rejected on 27 July 1965. After some complications, a permit for demolition is finally issued by the Ministry on July 7, 1966. The clockwork and the tower cock of the Kleine Kerk have been preserved. These can be seen in the town hall.

After the Hoogstraat you go via the Schansbrug to the Schanseiland where you cannot miss the Groote Kerk.

Groote Kerk (1629- present) Kerkplein 2
The land of the former redoubt was purchased on 24 June 1612 for the construction of a cemetery. In the same year, on November 10, Reverend Johannes Fenacolius buys the building plans of the Noorderkerk to be built in Amsterdam. The design for that church was by Hendrick de Keyser, Cornelis Dankersz. Van Seevenhoven and Hendrick Jabobsz. Staets. The church has a floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross. The pulpit is clearly the focal point. It is one of the first churches to be built as a Protestant church.

On June 9, 1639, the first stone is laid. Due to the hostilities of the Dunkirk corsairs, the fishing industry suffers losses and work on the church has to be interrupted (1632-1637) When work was resumed, views had changed and a lighter roof construction was designed. Nevertheless, the walls gave way so that iron tie rods had to be installed.
According to the building plans, the tower will be built on the crossing, the intersection of the roofs. Unfortunately, the construction of the church does not hold this heavy tower and it is decided to build a 60 meter high tower against the west facade of the church. To save weight, due to the poor soil conditions, a self-supporting wooden construction was made, surrounded by a brick shell. The part above the trans is the former wooden crossing tower. The dedication of the church takes place on October 9, 1636 during a church service in which Reverend Fenacolius presides, despite the fact that his wife died that night.

During the Second World War, on March 18, 1943, part of Maassluis and also the Groote Kerk was seriously hit by an Allied bombing raid. In 1995, a monument was unveiled at the foot of the tower in the former cemetery to commemorate this event. Completed in 2008 with 18 tiles with the name of a victim and a 19th tile for all victims who later succumbed.

The organ in the church is a gift from the unmarried Govert van Wijn, an unparalleled beneficent benefactor and wealthy Maassluizer. .
The organ with main work, upper work, back work and free pedal, made in 1732 by Rudolph Garrels. Since its construction, the organ has been restored and modified many times. During the restoration in 1978, the arrangement was restored in 18th century style. The added pedal registers behind the organ case are not covered by the protection.

You walk back over the Schansbrug and turn left onto the Noorddijk. After about 75 meters turn right down the dike through the Karnemelksteeg. You will end up next to the Bethel Church.

Bethel Church (1956- present) Wagenstraat 9
When the rope factories expanded in 1954, interest was shown in the land on which the church building stood. Finally, the building was sold in February 1955 and a new location was looked for. That's where the Wagenstraat came into the picture. The Bethel Church was built on the place where the'Varia\\\' building used to be. The organ in the Bethel Church was built in 1968 by Den Olden from Rijssen. It was inaugurated on December 12, 1968 by Koos Bons, organist of the Immanuel Church. The halls next to the church were expanded in 1983. For example, there is a multifunctional building that is used twice for worship on Sundays. In addition, associations come together during the week, for example the Christian Chamber Choir Maassluis rehearses there.
The Bethel Church is known in Maassluise history as the'black stockings church\\\'. Or among the older Maassluizers'the church of De Lange\\\'. A stamp that hasn't fit for quite some time, if it ever did. The Bethelkerk wants to be a hospitable, accessible and inviting church. A place where a clear sound can be heard. A place where people are warmly welcomed.

From the Bethel Church you can already see the Immanuel Church.

Immanuel Church (1954- present) Lange Boonestraat 5a
Because the Noorderkerk was lost to a bombing raid on 18 March 1943, the Reformed Church in Maassluis only has one church building (the Zuiderkerk) and a warehouse that was quickly converted (the Rehobothkerk). Rebuilding a church on the same site was not certain at that time, also because the church community already owned a piece of land on Fenacoliusslaan. Initially, a plan for a new church was developed for that piece of land. That plan is ultimately rejected by the national government, after which the civil municipality agrees to a land exchange in the Sluispolder expansion plan, where the Marantha Church will later be built. With the municipal council and Reconstruction it is agreed to build a new church on almost the same place as the decayed church building. The first stone of the new church was laid on June 10, 1953 and, after a delayed construction period, it was inaugurated on September 1, 1954.
The building, designed by architect BT Boeyinga in collaboration with architect A. Warnaar, is a modern designed creation. Based on an elongated octagon, a floor plan has been developed in which the pulpit is situated on one long side and the seats, partially ascending, are placed in a semicircle around it according to the principle of central construction. A surrounding balcony or gallery is also present according to this principle. The church has 786 seats on the ground floor and 284 seats on the balcony.
The building is founded on a pile foundation; the main load-bearing structure consists of a system of concrete portals that are connected to each other at roof level with a concrete roof floor. At that level, trusses have been installed on which an eight-sided tent roof, covered with newly improved tiles. The roof is equipped with a roof tower with copper cladding and equipped with a 370 kg Bes bell. This clock is attuned to the clocks of the Groote Kerk. The concrete framework visible in the facades is filled with masonry in a kleso bond and provided with glass surfaces set in concrete frames with stained glass. The facades are crowned with concrete gridwork.
After the refurbishment of old houses around the building, a hall room with bicycle shed could be added in 1956. Subsequent renovations and the construction of a large parking lot have brought the church more'in sight\\\'.
From 2007, plans have been developed to redecorate the church. The church hall has also undergone a transformation. The liturgical center has been changed, the pulpit with a blackboard has been removed, and the organ's console has been moved. In addition, new seats have been installed and the color scheme has been changed. For several years now, the church has solar panels in the shape of a cross on the roof.

Noorderkerk (1892- 1943) Nieuwe Kerkstraat.
After the secession in 1834, in 1887 another group (De Dolerenden) left the Dutch Reformed Church, also in Maassluis. In a dispute over the ownership of the Groote Kerk, it was closed on March 15, 1888 by order of the Queen's Commissioner. Only after various processes, up to the Supreme Court, is the Groote Kerk assigned to the Reformed Church.
The Dolerenden must then erect their own church building. The group is apparently already so large that first use is made of both an old school and the building of the Protestant Association in the Lange Boonestraat and a gymnasium that the municipality makes available. Soon afterwards, a temporary wooden church with 1,200 seats was built, which was put into use on May 10, 1888.
Plans for a new permanent church are made quickly, the willingness to sacrifice is great because a large budget is soon available. On July 21, 1891, the foundation stone was laid for the building that will have 1,500 seats. Within a year, on February 14, 1892, the building was taken into use. It will be named: New Church.
On a national level, on May 16, 1892, it was decided in Amsterdam that the two Reformed movements would together form the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. In Maassluis, however, a complete merger has not yet been achieved and a so-called Reformed A church and Reformed B church will continue to be held for another 32 years.
At the suggestion of Pastor Bramer, it was decided in 1924 to give the two reformed churches a new name. The Nieuwe Kerk will be called Noorderkerk and the church on the Groeneveld (Sluispolderkade) will be called Zuiderkerk.
In the period from 1920, the church community, with the two churches, appears to be short of about 600 seats and plans are made to expand the Noorderkerk. New plans lead to the decision to build a third church, for which almost 3,000 m2 of land on Fenacoliuslaan will be purchased. However, due to the crisis years, it is not possible to carry out the plans.
On March 18, 1943, the Allies bomb a refinery, but most of the bombs fall in the center of the city. 18 people are killed and many houses are damaged. The Noorderkerk is also not spared and burns out completely.
The Immanuel Church was later built at about the same place.

You now continue through the Lange Boonestraat, follow the bend into the PC Hooftlaan. Cross the bridge. Take the second street on the left, the Groen van Prinstererkade. A synagogue stood right at the beginning.

Synagogue (1858-1960) Groen van Prinstererkade 1.
The Maassluise synagogue stood on the west side of the Zuidvliet from the center two houses past the Lijndraaiersslop. That part was called Looierspad. In 1912, after the construction of the Groen van Prinstereschool, this path was renamed Groen van Prinstererkade. The synagogue was built in 1858. It is a complex consisting of a house with yard, the synagogue, a bathhouse, a warehouse and a yard. In the period 1892-1930, the number of Jews in Maassluis decreased from 92 to 8. After the war of 1940-1945, when the Jewish families were deported from Maassluis and most of them killed, the synagogue fell into disrepair. In 1949, the complex was purchased by the municipality, which had it demolished in 1960.

You turn around and cross the PC Hooftlaan. You walk the Dr. Kuyperkade.

Salvation Army building (1911- demolished) Dr. Kuyperkade 11
The former building of the Salvation Army in Maassluis stood on the site where a shop (drugstore) was built after the Second World War.
The construction of the building took place in 1911 after a presbytery standing there was demolished. Rev. JF Kuyper lived in that parsonage, who was a minister in Maassluis from 1834 to 1841. In this family son Abraham was born, who later became the well-known statesman. A commemorative plaque on the facade of the shop commemorates this. On the occasion of a visit by Kuyper to Maassluis in 1908, this part of what was then the Zuidvliet Noordzijde was changed into the Dr. Kuyperkade.

After you have stopped at no. 11, take a few steps back over the bridge over the Zuidvliet and into the Anne de Vriesstraat. The Sluispolderkade is directly at the car park on the right.

Zuiderkerk (1895- 1965) Sluispolderkade 5.
In the year 1834 there was a separation of members from the Reformed Church. These members initially joined the Christian Separated Reformed Congregation of Maasland. In 1865, a private congregation was founded in Maassluis, which in 1869 built its own church with 360 seats on the Groeneveld. The later Zuiderkerk. In 1897 another group (the Dolerenden) leaves the Dutch Reformed Church, which in turn forms a denomination and erects its own building, the Nieuwe Kerk later Noorderkerk. On June 16, 1892, it was decided in Amsterdam that the two groups together would become the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands. In Maassluis they have not yet merged and the groups will continue to exist until 1924 from a so-called Reformed A church and Reformed B church. At the suggestion of Reverend Bramer, it was decided to give the two Reformed church buildings a new name. The Nieuwe Kerk becomes the Noorderkerk and the church on the Groeneveld (Sluispolderkade corner sandelijnstraat) is called the Zuiderkerk.
The latter church had the shape of an elongated hall and could seat about 360 people. On the short side, opposite the entrance on the Sluispolderkade, a space was intended for the consistory room and catechism room. Against the wall of this room was the pulpit. The organ was placed on the opposite side, above the entrance. Pews for the men at the sides and chairs for the women in the center of the church room all faced the pulpit. Due to a neighborhood remediation in 1965, the church building fell victim to the demolition hammer. The Maranatha Church was then built to replace it.

You can walk back through the Arthur van Schendelstraat to the car park at the PC Hooftlaan. Via the PC Hooftlaan, the Lange Boonestraat and Wagenstraat you will reach a roundabout. There you go to the Westlandseweg. There is a mosque at the roundabout with the Mozartlaan.

Yeni Cami Mosque (1990 - present) Elektraweg 6.
Mosque of the Turkish community in Maassluis.'Yeni Cami\\\' means'New Mosque\\\'. Built in 1990 on a prominent spot in Maassluis, right next to the Westlandseweg/Mozartlaan roundabout.
Made of gray stones with dome and minaret. Downstairs are a number of common areas, the kitchen and the office of the imam. The upstairs room is used as a prayer room. In 2013 the building was adapted and expanded with an extension in which there is extra room space for educational activities and a prayer room for the women. The use of color for the exterior has given the building a distinctly different appearance.

If you continue to follow the Westlandseweg, you cannot miss the next building .

Peter and Paul (2007- present)
The church replaces the Andreas Chapel and the Peter & Paul Church. Already on September 21, 2004 the first pile was driven for the new parish church of HH Andreas, Peter and Paul. It is a very futuristic design by the architects René Olivier and Mari Baauw van Haaskoning Architecten. It will be a sturdy frame of tubes, spanned by a PVDT-Teflon material. It is a special building that at first glance shows similarities with the opera house in Sydney, Australia. The building was delayed several times. The last service was held in the old church on April 28, 2007. April 29, 2007 there was a special service at two locations. First in the old church, after which they went together to the new church to continue the service. July 1, 2007 Bishop Van Luyn consecrated the church.

Go straight ahead on the Houtsnipstraat until you reach the Schollevaarstraat, then turn left and follow the bend into the Zwaluwstraat. At the end turn left and immediately right again into the Koekkoekstraat. At the end you will find the Compass on the left.

The Compass (2008- present) Ibisstraat 1.
In 1944, the Reformed Church Liberated was created nationwide due to, among other things, theological differences of opinion about baptism, but also about church order matters in which the autonomy of the local churches was under discussion. In Maassluis a Reformed Church was also created. Church services were held in rented spaces. In June 2003, the empty primary school Het Kompas on the Ibisstraat was purchased. The school building has been converted into a church. Many members of the congregation have contributed to this. In September 2003 Het Kompas was put into use for many church activities. The completion of the church hall took more time, but on April 2, 2008, the new church on Ibisstraat was fully taken into use.

From the Koekkoekstraat you turn right into the Ibisstraat and immediately left into the Buizerdstraat. At the end, cross the Kwartellaan and go straight ahead until you reach the Burg Van de Brandelerlaan, where you turn right. On the corner with the Zaneveldstraat you will find the following buildings.

Burg Kingdom Hall . Zaneveldstraat 217

Ibrahim Mosque (1991 - present) Burg. Zaneveldstraat 219
To clearly illustrate the history of this mosque, it is important to go even further back than the construction in 1991. In the middle of the 1970s, the first guest workers began to settle in Maassluis. There was plenty of work around Maassluis. After all, the greenhouses are within cycling distance and the port of Rotterdam was also not too far away.
In the big cities it was very difficult to get a decent house. Because most guest workers reunited with their families in the late 1970s, there was a great need for housing. Many homes were completed in the municipality of Maassluis at that time. These often concerned gallery flats in the mayor's district. With the arrival of the first generation, the need grew to come together after a hard day's work to practice a common religion; the Islam.
At the Lange Boonestraat, a suitable location was found for the Moroccan community of Maassluis. Because more and more people discovered Maassluis and the city was increasingly inhabited, the mosque on the Lange Boonestraat soon became too small. They started looking for another suitable location and thanks to the efforts of many people from the Moroccan community, the money also became available. Talks were held with the municipality of Maassluis to realize this. A local contractor was hired and responsible for the construction. In July 1991 the time had come; the official opening, The religious community took the new building into use with joy. In 1994 a major renovation and expansion took place.