Leaks, wood rot and ornaments that just fall down. On the eve of the Christmas celebrations in the basilica in Oudenbosch, there is little reason to celebrate in the building itself. The village’s monumental pride is in worse shape than ever. Mayor Bernd Roks is sounding the alarm and calling on residents, entrepreneurs and the province to ‘save’ one of the most striking buildings in West Brabant.
During midnight mass on Tuesday evening, flyers are distributed to churchgoers with the request to become a ‘friend’ of the basilica. Roks: “We need more donors and help from entrepreneurs. Residents of Oudenbosch like to advertise the basilica, but they are not sufficiently aware of the need to keep the building standing.”
“If it leaks, all the paintings and murals will be damaged.”
The basilica in Oudenbosch is largely a scaled copy of St. Peter’s in Rome. “The front and right side facades in particular are in a bad condition. The impressive dome roof is now also weathering. If it leaks, all the paintings and murals inside will also be damaged and then it will really be our birthday. We must therefore intervene now,” says Roks, who as mayor is chairman of the Basilica Preservation Foundation.
The cost of the necessary work amounts to 1.9 million euros. The Basilica Preservation Foundation, together with the parish, will pay 1.3 million euros out of its own pocket. The foundation hopes for support from the region and the Oudenbos community for the remaining six thousand euros. In addition, there is a request for a contribution of €400,000 at the provincial government office.
“This can’t work anymore, we need help.”
Bernd Roks: “Large cities such as Den Bosch with the St. John’s Cathedral and Breda with the Grote Kerk can lobby well. The basilica belongs in that list as a unique monument. We were too modest because we thought we could solve it ourselves. This can’t work anymore, we need help. Oudenbosch has too small a base for such a large monument, because the number of parishioners is only decreasing.”
Earlier this year, the mayor wrote an urgent letter to the State Secretary involved. Although he endorsed the ‘worrying situation’, he referred Roks to the province for a subsidy application. There too, even after repeated requests, he has so far received no response.
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In the meantime, the Basilica Preservation Foundation is considering new sources of income. “We recently had performances here by Trijntje Oosterhuis and Dana Winner. It is a beautiful concert hall that we want to make more use of. We also want to rent out the space under the basilica more to entrepreneurs. The church is currently still owned by the parish, but if it is easier to do this with a different owner, this should be considered. The parish could then rent the building.”
Entrance fee
Roks continues: “We are also investigating the possibility of charging an entrance fee to tourists outside church services. Suppose you charge one euro per person. Then, with the current hundred thousand visitors per year, you will have an extra €100,000 in your budget.”
Despite the poor structural condition of the basilica, the municipality of Halderberge has started the construction of a large new square around it. Halderberge wants to attract more tourists in 2025 because of the 750th anniversary of Oudenbosch. Roks: “We can’t possibly have to think about whether we can still do this close to the basilica.”
“I have the feeling that the province will make a positive decision this time.”
Possibly with the Christmas spirit in mind, the chairman is confident of a good outcome this time. “We regularly have coffee with deputies and officials. It takes time for everyone to realize this. But they’ve really figured us out now. I have the feeling that the province will make a positive decision about the subsidy this time. If we can cycle together the remaining two tons here, everything will be fine.”
