Achthuizen – Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven

In Achthuizen in the South Holland municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee stands the church dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. The church, which stands centrally in the village, was built between 1845 and 1846 and consecrated in 1847. The consecration was performed by Everardus Stephanus van der Haagen (1793-1861), archpriest (senior clergyman, dean) of Holland, West Friesland and Zeeland. The designer of the church is unknown. In 1936 the house of worship was enlarged. The presbytery was built next to the church. Achthuizen is a Catholic enclave on the largely Protestant island of Goeree-Overflakkee.

In 1897 a new altar was consecrated, which is in the neo-Renaissance style.

In the Mariakerk there are depictions of Our Lady. The most special is the stained-glass window, which can be seen in a alcove near the entrance of the church on the left-hand side. This is the representation of the 1830 apparition of Mary to Sister Catherine Labouré (1806-1876) in the convent of Rue du Bac in the French capital, Paris. During the apparitions in the convent, Mary comes with the proposal of the Miraculous Medal. Tens of millions of these have been made and distributed throughout the entire world. At the bottom of the glass window is the text: “this is the symbol of the graces that I pour out upon those who ask me for them”. It is highly exceptional that the depiction of this apparition can be seen in a church in the Netherlands.

A large statue of Our Lady of Lourdes has also been placed in the church. Next to it is the French text “Je suis l’Immaculée Conception” (I am the Immaculate Conception).

Another image of Mary is a beautiful, colourful depiction of Our Lady with a rosary and flowers.

Embedded in the church façade is a stone bearing an image of Mary with the text “Maria ten Hemelopneming O.L. Vrouw van Achthuizen”.

On the front of the façade, a large stone can be seen with the text: ”Religious devotion and spirit of sacrifice brought about the enlargement of this church. A.D. 1936". A great deal of material was needed to expand the church, which farmers transported free of charge. The enlarged church was reconsecrated in 1936 by Anthonius Johannes Cornelis Schraag (1875-1944), dean of Schiedam; Achthuizen falls under this deanery.

High up against the façade on the left-hand side of the entrance, a large stone has been placed with a barely legible inscription in Latin. Enquiries reveal that this also refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Address: Kerkstraat 3, 3256AE Achthuizen.

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