O.L. Vrouw van Lourdeskerk (Church of Our Lady of Lourdes), Maastricht

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish church, located in the Wittevrouwenveld neighborhood in Maastricht-East. Designed by architect Frits Peutz, the church was completed in 1938 and has since been designated as a National Monument. It stands as a significant example of traditionalist architecture infused with early Christian and Romanesque influences, while also incorporating Peutz’s distinctive design elements.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, built from Sibber marl on a Kunrader stone base, features red convex roof tiles, giving it an Italian look. Consecrated by Pastor Jacobs on April 14, 1938, its tower was completed in 1941 and clad in copper, with bells added in 1949 for the parish’s 25th anniversary. Designed as an early Christian basilica, it has a rectangular plan, a west-side narthex, a northeast tower, a Maria chapel, a semicircular apse, and asymmetrical gable roofs. Inside, a flat beamed ceiling on bluestone consoles contrasts with raw marl walls, a black bluestone floor, and white marble choir, altar, and communion rails (added in 1958).

The church showcases stained glass by Limburg artists like Jos Eggen, Eugène Laudy, and Joep Nicolas. The Stations of the Cross, painted by C. Alberdinck, and a neo-Renaissance pulpit add to its artistic heritage. Some original Peutz-designed furniture remains in the aisles. A unique feature is the rood screen, attached only to the west wall, creating a floating effect. The main organ, built in 1906 by Kerckhoff for the Calvary Hospital chapel, was expanded by Verschueren and installed in 1982. A second organ from Sint-Guliëlmus church was added to Emmaus Chapel in 2015.