Church O.L. Vrouw Presentatie opened during Open Church Day

On Whit Monday, Our Lady Presentation Church of Aarle-Rixtel is participating in the national Open Church Day. This will be held for the third time. 

This national event draws particular attention to church interiors this year. These are true treasure troves of art, culture and history. During Open Kerkendag, over 300 church buildings will be open especially for this purpose. Visit www.openkerkendag.nl to see which other churches are participating. 

Catholic churches, Protestant churches as well as churches that have been given a different purpose participate in the national Open Church Day. The Open Kerkendag is organised by a foundation of the same name. The first Open Kerkendag was held in Brabant, followed by Zeeland and now churches all over the country join in. The Open Kerkendag is organised to introduce as many people as possible, young and old, to church buildings and their interiors. Church buildings are the most common heritage in the Netherlands. They are often centuries-old buildings that help define the identity of those communities through their presence in the skyline of a town or village. 

As a result of secularisation, church buildings are being withdrawn from worship and need to be given a different future. It is important that communities have their say in the redevelopment of church buildings. After all, they are an integral part of those communities, even in secular times. The Open Church Day aims to inform about the importance of church buildings and thereby increase involvement.

During the Open Church Day, experts from village or town are often present to explain and answer questions. While this is the more general set-up of the Open Church Day, in 2023 the organisation will focus in particular on the interiors. Church buildings often house enormous cultural treasures that fewer and fewer people know about. In fact, the Open Kerkendag invites people to do something that many Dutch people like and frequently do on holidays, which is to walk into a church building to enjoy all that beauty and mystical atmosphere. On Whit Monday, participants of the Open Church Day can have the same experiences, but around the corner, within walking or cycling distance.