The Lourdes Grotto in Rijsbergen is located near the entrance to the cemetery, behind the church, which is dedicated to Saint Bavo. The church was taken into use in 1918 and the architect is Nicolaas Jacobus Hubertus (Jacques) van Groenendael (1864-1932). This grotto is the second one to be built in Rijsbergen.
In 2000, volunteers undertook the creation of the current grotto. Forty tonnes of natural stone were used for the realisation of the Lourdes grotto. The stones were sourced from Turkey. The statue of Mary from the previous grotto is undergoing restoration and will be reinstated in the new niche. On 13th August 2000, the Lourdes grotto was consecrated by Frans Verheije (b. 1957), parish priest of Rijsbergen (1999-2018). The statue of Mary is situated in a niche at a height of approximately 2 metres, and beneath the depiction, a stone is affixed with the inscription “I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”. A statue of the visionary Bernadette is absent. In front of the grotto, between two small chairs, there is text on a plank with the words “RIJSBERGEN OUR VILLAGE”. Seating is also provided at the grotto. The Lourdes grotto receives daily visitors and also serves as a social meeting place for the inhabitants of Rijsbergen. Candles are lit in the grotto every day.
The first Lourdes grotto in Rijsbergen was built in 1938 and demolished in 1999. The removal of the grotto was due to the realization of a community centre. The former grotto was established on the initiative of Christiaan Govardus Jozef Verbunt (1878-1963), parish priest in Rijsbergen (1926-1947) and honorary citizen of this town. This priest organised the pilgrimage from Catholic Netherlands to Lourdes. Parish priest Verbunt was also the initiator of the 11 Maria chapels in Rijsbergen. Parish priest Verbunt was therefore a great promoter of Marian devotion.
The address of the Lourdes grotto, behind the church, in the cemetery is Sint Bavostraat 12, 4891CJ Rijsbergen.
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