Vriezenveen belongs to the municipality of Twenterand, near the city of Almelo in the east of the Netherlands. The village is located in the province of Overijssel. The Lourdes grotto stands next to the church of Saint Anthony Abbot. The architect of the place of worship is Hermanus Kroes (1864–1952).
The large Lourdes Grotto is an armed concrete structure near the church tower and dates from 1933. The grotto was consecrated by Dean Van der Waarden, who was Dean of Almelo for a total of 33 years.
The Lourdes grotto was a silver wedding anniversary gift from the couple Albertus Hemmer (1879-1950), owner of Hemmer Beton, and Joanna Alberta Bramer (1878-1949), who married in 1907.
The sculptor of the effigy of Maria is Josef Hendrik (Jos) Eijmael/Eymael (1894-1968) from Maastricht. Beneath the entirely white statue of Maria are the words “I am the Immaculate Conception”. The hands are missing from the arms of the statue. The grotto is made in cement rustication, with mortar over concrete. This imitates a rock formation in the style of rockery art.
In the grotto's niche stands an altar. No candles are burning in this rock opening. Furthermore, the statue of seer Bernadette Soubirous is missing. A large bench is located by the grotto; here, visitors can sit and look towards the grotto, pray, rest, and gather their thoughts.
The church is nominated to be deconsecrated. Should this place of worship close, the grotto can remain or be moved to the churchyard, behind the church.
Address: Oosteinde 19, 7671AR Vriezenveen
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