The Lourdes Grotto in Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands, is located in the procession park near the St. Salvator Chapel and belongs to the hamlet of Nijhoven. This park is surrounded by Visweg and Nijhoven.
The Lourdes Grotto was realised in 1932 through the expansion of objects within the domain. The statue of Mary stands a few metres high in a niche. Above the statue of Mary, the text reads: “I am the Immaculate Conception,” and these words relate to the apparitions of 1858 in Lourdes, France, when Mary revealed herself to Bernadette Soubirous.
Candles are burning and flowers are displayed in the grotto. Benches have been placed in front of the Lourdes grotto, and the statue of the kneeling visionary Bernadette is also located there. In 2017, the Lourdes grotto was refurbished by volunteers. The grotto invites prayer and quiet contemplation with Mary. The Lourdes grotto gives a well-maintained impression.
In the Procession Park stands the Chapel of Saint Salvator (Holy Saviour). This chapel has a long pre-history, as a wooden chapel already stood here in the 8th century. This was followed by a stone chapel, a much larger house of worship, and a chapel that was demolished in 1926 due to the building's dilapidated state. Subsequently, the current chapel was built, designed by Hans van der Laan (1904-1991), who was an architect and Benedictine monk. He is addressed as Dom, a derivative of the Latin title Dominus, meaning Lord. The chapel was consecrated in 1930. In 1966, the chapel became a municipal monument, and thereafter the building was also added to the Brabant heritage list.
The procession park received a huge boost in the 1930s. It was the enterprising Johannes Antonius Vekemans (1881-1963), priest of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baarle-Nassau (1936-1958), who was responsible for the park's expansions. In 1931, the Stations of the Cross, with 14 stations, were constructed. The year 1932 brought many new activities with depictions of the mysteries of the Rosary, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and the construction of the Lourdes grotto. In 1934, the Calvary Mount was added to the park. A bell tower was erected on the edge of the park.
In 2000, the Stations of the Cross were restored and consecrated by Maickel Prasing (born 1962), the parish priest in Baarle-Nassau (1995-2007). In the rear section of the park, it is possible to scatter ashes in a small meadow, and the names and dates of deceased individuals are displayed on plaques.
In 1935, the Association Friends of Lourdes was founded, and this organisation became a foundation in 2002. Since 1950, there has been the activity of holding a torchlight procession to the Lourdes Grotto every year on the first Sunday after 15 August.
The procession park is visibly well-maintained and it's clear that volunteers and visitors want to honour this place.
There is parking available at the park.
Address: Nijhoven/Visweg, 5111HE Nijhoven/Baarle-Nassau.
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