Wassenaar – Life of Mary in the Good Shepherd Church

The Good Shepherd Church, built between 1928 and 1932, is located in Wassenaar-Zuid. The architects were Leonardus (Leo) van der Laan (1864-1942) and his eldest son Johannes Antonius (Jan) van der Laan (1896-1966). The Neo-Gothic church stands in a leafy setting on the corner of Stoeplaan and Wittenburgerweg.

In the three-aisled church, to the left of the chancel, is a large Marian chapel. During the construction of the church, provision was made for the installation of 8 paintings depicting scenes from the life of Mary (Vita Mariae). For this purpose, 8 shallow niches, 150 by 100 centimetres in size, were made in the walls. These niches are marked by a horizontal row of glazed bricks at the bottom of each niche.

From the church's realisation, attempts were made to enrich the niches with paintings of Mary. It wasn't until 2011, with plans to refurbish the Mary Chapel, that a successful tender was issued.

In the alcoves of this chapel, 8 oil paintings on panels have been installed. The artworks form Vita Mariae, were created by Judith Lansink (*1952) from Amsterdam and executed between 2012 and 2016. The style she employed is “spiritual realism”. The selection of the scenes was made in consultation between the artist and pastor Michaël Paulus Jacobus (Michel) Hagen (*1952).

The Vita Mariae features 8 paintings with a reserved character. The images hold great significance for believers and art connoisseurs, with the atmosphere dictated by the dark and light skies. They are scenes rendered using 17th-century oil-on-panel technique.

The works are:
Annunciation
2. visit
3. The birth of Jesus
4. Finding again in the temple
5. Wedding at Cana
6. Stabat Mater
7. pity
8. Pentecost

Since 1999, the church has been a national monument.

During my visit on a Sunday morning, a Eucharist service is being held in French.

The church is open on Sundays from 11:00 to 16:00.

Address: Stoeplaan 2, 2243CZ Wassenaar.

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