The Hasseltse Chapel is located in a small park, at Hasseltplein 7 in Tilburg. Another name for the chapel is Our Lady of the Visitation.
The Hasselt Chapel has a long history, as it was founded around 1530. This can be deduced from the year 1536, which is mentioned on the bell in the tower. The chapel owes its name to the Hasselt, a pasture, a farming hamlet, whose inhabitants founded the chapel. The building is the oldest monument in Tilburg. The chapel is a popular place of devotion, where services are also held.
Midway through the 17th century, the prevailing Protestant powers put an end to religious freedom. As a result, no more religious activities were allowed to take place in the chapel. This situation changed in 1743, when the chapel was found to be in a very dilapidated state. The chapel was refurbished at the expense of the parish. Its new purpose was first as a weaver's dwelling and later the building housed an inn.
In 1794, the French occupied the Netherlands, allowing Catholics to practise their religion publicly again. In 1796, a new, wooden statue of Mary was placed in the chapel, making the space accessible to believers once more. The statue, depicting Mary and Jesus, dates from the 18th century and is a "staakmadonna" – a staff with two small heads on it, and a cloak draped around the staff. The chapel attracts many visitors, including Peerke Donders (1809-1887), who often came to pray there until he went to help leprosy sufferers in Suriname.
In the years 1971-1972, the chapel underwent a thorough and much-needed restoration, and the national monument was returned to its former glory.
In 1972, the chapel was enriched with an 18th-century wooden statue of Joseph and Jesus. The artwork hangs on the wall at the front right. Inside the chapel, there are two display cabinets with ex-votos and also votive tablets. These were donated out of a vow, in gratitude, or in hope for better times.
Since 1983, a bronze relief depicting the Visitation of Mary has hung in the front-left of the chapel. This was created by the driven and prolific artist Niel Steenbergen (1911-1997) from Oosterhout.
Outside the chapel, on the lawn, stands a sculpture of Saint Anne training, dating from 1990, by artist Bart van Hoek. A sculpture of a young Mary can also be seen. This sculpture is from 1998 and was made by the Tilburg artist Charles Vergouwen (1946-2019).
Currently, the management of the chapel falls under a foundation, and the parish owns the particularly beautiful building. The Friends of the Hasselt Chapel Foundation provides financial support for the organisation of the building. Around 100,000 people visit the chapel annually and admire this gem of folk belief, which is open daily.
More information can be found at www.hasseltsekapel.nl.
