Oudenbosch Basilica, Parish church in Oudenbosch, Netherlands.
Oudenbosch Basilica is a parish church in Oudenbosch, a small town in Halderberge, southern Netherlands. The building follows a neoclassical design inspired by Saint Peter's in Rome and measures 81 meters long, 55 meters wide, with a dome that rises 63 meters above the floor.
Construction began in 1865 under the guidance of architect Pierre Cuypers and continued until the official opening in 1892. The project was initiated by Father Willem van Genk, who wanted to create a scaled replica of Saint Peter's Basilica in a small Brabant village.
Locals sometimes call the church "Koepelke," a nickname that refers to the dome shape and reflects the warmth of village life. Inside, visitors see marble altarpieces and statues by Frans de Vriendt that express the devotional intensity of Dutch Catholicism in the late 1800s.
The church welcomes visitors every day and offers a calm space for personal exploration most of the time. Guided tours are available for groups and provide detailed explanation of the design and artworks inside.
A fragment of Pope John Paul II's garment from the 1981 assassination attempt is kept inside the church as a relic. This piece draws pilgrims from different countries and is displayed in a glass case within the building.
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