Church of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Tenhemelopneming in Veulen (Heers) - Discover this open and welcoming religious building

Church | XIII | Romanesque | Catholic Church

Parking space Graveyard

Map

Opening hours

01 April - 30 September
Mon 9.00 - 17.00
Tue 9.00 - 17.00
Wed 9.00 - 17.00
Thu 9.00 - 17.00
Fri 9.00 - 17.00
Sat 10.00 - 17.00
Sun 10.00 - 17.00

In winter by appointment : +32 11 48 01 22 or toerisme@heers.be

Guided tour

+32 11 48 01 22 or toerisme@heers.be

Religious offices

Kerknet

Description

The Assumption of Mary church is situated in a small rural village with less than five hundred inhabitants, a village that nevertheless holds a lot of valuable buildings such as some striking farms and the castle of Veulen that originates from the 17th-18th century.

The gothic church building has kept the elements of a 13th century roman chapel in silex natural stone in its tower base while the rest of the church stems from the 15th century and was built out of marlstone. The neogothic side aisles were added in 1912.

The pièce de resistance of the church is a gorgeously painted coffered ceiling presumably introduced and commissioned by her duchess Marie d’Argenteau in 1627. It is talked about that the duchess herself would have helped paint this unique religious work of art that constitutes of scenes taken from the life of Our Lady, saints and sixteen blazons of the house of Argenteau.

Most of the interior elements stem from the 19th-20th century, such as there are the lectern (around 1800), the marble font (1850), paneling and closets (17th century), head- and side altars, communion rails and pulpit (around 1912). Three statues of saints (Apollonia, virgin and child with Saint Anne, and John the Baptist) are early 16th century while others like the statue of Saint Roch are more recent. In the floor of the side aisles and the arms of the transept one can find a further five tombstones from the 15th and 16th century.

KIKIRPA : Photo-library online

See the treasures of this church online on Heritage Plus.

Tourism Limburg
Extensive history of the church (NL)
Cycling and walking routes (NL)

The church of Veulen is situated on the cycle network between junctions 159 and 537, and on the red walking loop of the popular landscape walk Mettekoven.

With the support of PG Leader Haspengouw

Photos

Remarkable elements

Cassette ceiling

The beautifully painted ceiling above the nave (ca. 1627) is beyond a doubt a unique work of art. The paintings were probably commissioned by countess Marie d’Argenteau. Some researchers believe that the countess herself painted some parts of this artwork. The panels grasp twenty-four renaissance scenes from the life of the virgin Holy Mary. These paintings are accompanied by the sixteen blazons of the houses related to the d’Argenteau family. The whole is escorted by four Church Fathers and four evangelists. A ceiling like this is very rare among Flemish churches.

Stained-glass windows in the aisles

The marvelous stained-glass windows in the aisles show Biblical scenes and persons, scenes from the lives of The Holy Mary and countless Saints. These beautiful windows were installed during the rebuilding of the church in 1912. They were funded by various families from Veulen, their family names are mentioned below the windows.

Tombstones

Several tombstones from the 15th and 16th century are incorporated in the floor of the side aisles and transept arms. Some former inhabitants of the castle and several priests from Veulen rest underneath these gravestones. Among them lies the oldest known priest, Jean Quyts, who died in 1514.

Painting of countess Marie d’Argenteau

The painting of a kneeling and praying countess Marie d’Argenteau was made in the same period as the ceiling paintings. The countess is seen whilst praying at a statue of the Virgin with her Child and Saint Anne. Surprisingly this statue is located in the northern transept of the church. The use of a vivid blue pigmentation is extraordinary since blue pigments were very expensive and normally only used to paint the clothes of the most important persons like Mary and Jesus.

Statue of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

In Christian iconography The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne represent the Holy Virgin Mary with her mother, Anne, and her child Jesus. The statue in this particular church dates back to ca. 1550 and was carved out of lime wood. The Holy Anne was immensely popular in the Netherlands during that period. Young couples asked for her blessing when they wished to conceive a child. She is the symbol of fertility, protector of widows, married and single women.

Private chapel of the Lord of Veulen

Left of the choir the former private chapel of the Lord of Veulen can be found. This chapel has a separate outside door and has a gothic ribbed vault ceiling. Between the ribs the blazons of the D’argenteau family are painted with heraldic eagles and crowned lions.