Sint Lodewijks Kerk (Saint Louis Church), Leiden

The Saint Louis Church stands as a significant Roman Catholic landmark on Steenschuur in Leiden. Part of the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul, the church and its tower are recognized as national monuments, steeped in centuries of history.

The church's story begins on the site of the Sint Jakobsgasthuis Chapel, established in 1477 and dedicated to Saint James. Over time, the chapel changed hands-from the Peter's Church (Pieterskerk) parish in 1547 to the city of Leiden in 1567-before being repurposed as a grain warehouse and later as a boring hall. The façade of the current church dates back to 1538, while the Saint James Tower was constructed in 1594.

The church's current form owes much to the tragic Leiden gunpowder disaster of 1807, which devastated the city center, including the Catholics' clandestine church on the Nieuwe Rijn. With encouragement from King Louis Napoleon, the damaged Saaihal was rebuilt to provide a new home for the Catholic community. The interior design, overseen by architect Giudici, transformed the chapel into a church dedicated to Louis Napoleon's patron saint, Saint Louis. Meanwhile, the tower retained its dedication to Saint James, earning its title as the Saint James Tower.

The church's tower has housed bells since the 16th century. Originally cast by Peter van den Ghein of Mechelen, the bells were celebrated for their poetic inscriptions. Unfortunately, the original bells were sold as scrap by 1742, but in 1961, the church acquired a new chime of 17 bells from Eijsbouts, which later expanded to 22 bells in 2021.

Following a 1957 restoration and expansion, the Saint Louis Church became the seat of the Parish of Saint Louis. Since 2012, it has served as a parish center within the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul. To this day, the church hosts daily Masses in Dutch, English, and Latin, known for its adherence to traditional liturgy.