The Brabant village of Lepelstraat, located in the municipality of Bergen op Zoom, has a Lourdes grotto. This is situated between some trees on the edge of the local cemetery. The cemetery is located on the corner of Kruisweg and Lepelstraatseweg, near sports fields.
The scene depicts Mary, Bernadette, and a few sheep. The initiator of the Lourdes grotto is Karel van Meel; the caretaker of the cemetery. In 2009, volunteers built the grotto with mortared natural stones, with Jan Steijns (*1932) doing a lot of the work. On the feast day of the Assumption of Mary, 15 August 2009, the grotto was consecrated by Han Akkermans (*1955), pastor of the parish in Tholen (2006-2013), part of the Saint Christopher Parish of Halsteren/Tholen. The white and blue statue of Mary was purchased in Lourdes, France.
In fact, the Lourdes grotto is a Lourdes niche made of brickwork and therefore essentially differs from the traditional Lourdes grotto. The addition of sheep is quite unique for the Netherlands. The statue of Mary comes from Lourdes in France and was brought back by believers from Lepelstraat. It was subsequently placed in the niche.
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