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

Sittard - assumed to have been founded around the year of 850 - is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. The Duke of Limburg is said to have granted the city its “city rights” in 1243. In 1400 Sittard became part of the Duchy of Jülich, which it remained until 1794. During the 15th - 17th centuries the city saw much conflicts and it was destroyed by multiple fires and rebuild a number of times. From 1798 to 1814 Sittard belonged to France as a part of the so called the Roer department, with Aachen as its capital. In 1814 it became part of the Netherlands, except for the years 1830 - 1839. During World War II the historic centre of Sittard was mostly spared destruction, although over 4.000 shells and rockets struck the city. Although the city of Sittard has continued to grow after the war, it has maintained its connection with its history. Many of the buildings in existence still today are indicative of the 16th and 17th centuries. Even the original city walls, built in the 13th century, are still visible in many places throughout the city. The city centre 0f Sittard has been officially designated as a protected national monument.

The Basiliek van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Heilig Hart (Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) is built in neogothic style, which is quite rare in the Dutch province of Limburg. Its architect was J. Kayser, a pupil of the well known Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers. The first stone was laid on 2 June 1875, a marble stone which came from the catacombs of the Holy Callixtus and was sent by Pope Pius IX. The building was completed in 1877 and consecrated on 5 July 1879 by the bishop of Roermond. The basilica was the first Dutch church - in 1883 - to be bestowed the ecclesiastical distinction of basilica. Following on from the 'great' basilicas in Rome and Assisi, by the end of the 19th century the Church was also extending the title of basilica minor (small basilica) to churches of distinctive importance and aesthetic value. The charter granting the title of basilica was signed by Pope Leo XIII on 6 May 1883. The interior of the basilica is particularly richly decorated. The high vaults of the nave and the presence of the two galleries muffle the light, so that the church is rather dark, almost mysterious. The choir and the altar are lit by the windows of the tower. The most special feature of the basilica in Sittard are the more than 1.400 votive stones that have been donated. Texts on these stones ask Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for favours. These stones give the church a very colourful and eye-catching character.