Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Kevelaer

Kevelaer is one of the most famous and largest Marian pilgrimage sites in Germany. Probably the most important date for the history of the city is June 1, 1642. Just before Christmas 1641, at the crossroads of the old trade routes Amsterdam-Cologne and Münster-Brussels, the Geldrian merchant Hendrick Busman heard three times the mysterious cry: "On this spot you shall build me a little chapel!".Triggered by these events, he made the decision to heed the call and to built a shrine on that location. The Kerzenkapelle (Candle Chapel) is the oldest pilgrimage church in Kevelaer, which is why most processions still take place here today. The number of coats of arms, the abundance of candle offerings, windows and signs of thanks document the old tradition of many processions and the liveliness of the pilgrimage. More than 300 candles from the various pilgrim groups are placed here during the pilgrimage season, showing the connection with Mary of those who have long since returned home. More than 100 candles burn every day during the Marian Praise.

Kevelaer is one of the most famous and largest Marian pilgrimage sites in Germany. Probably the most important date for the history of the city is June 1, 1642. Just before Christmas 1641, at the crossroads of the old trade routes Amsterdam-Cologne and Münster-Brussels, the Geldrian merchant Hendrick Busman heard three times the mysterious cry: "On this spot you shall build me a little chapel!".Triggered by these events, he made the decision to heed the call and to built a shrine on that location. The shrine, later Chapel of Mercy , became a very popular pilgrimage site. When it couldn’t any longer accommodate the numerous pilgrims the Marienbasilika (Basilica of Mary) was built. The neo-Gothic church building was built between 1858 and 1864, whre the larger holy masses are celebrated. In 1923, the pilgrimage church was elevated to the status of a Papal Basilica. Around the turn of the century, the exceptionally colorful painting of the transept and the choir followed. The organ of the Marienbasilika , with its 135 registers, is the largest German-Romantic organ in the world. The 90 meter high tower of the church dates from 1884.

Kevelaer is one of the most famous and largest Marian pilgrimage sites in Germany. Probably the most important date for the history of the city is June 1, 1642. Just before Christmas 1641, at the crossroads of the old trade routes Amsterdam-Cologne and Münster-Brussels, the Geldrian merchant Hendrick Busman heard three times the mysterious cry: "On this spot you shall build me a little chapel".Triggered by these events, he made the decision to heed the call and to built a shrine on that location. The chapel was consecrated and on 1 June 1642, the Sunday after Assumption of Mary, the print was displayed in it, and the chapel became such a popular destination for pilgrims that a church was built for them between 1643 and 1645. The little chapel was replaced in 1654 with a larger one, the current Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Mercy or Chapel of Grace), which still houses the miraculous image “Consolatrix Afflictorum”. The hexagonal domed building is one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in north-western Europe and has drawn pilgrims to Kevealer from all over the world for more than 360 years.