Built between 1864 and 1865, the Sint-Eusebiuskerk was an icon of the Dutch town of Arnhem for more than a century. The Roman Catholic hall church located at the city’s Nieuwe Plein (at the edge of the old town centre) was designed by architect H.J. van den Brink. It was considered his magnum opus. The Gothic Revival church lived through the brutal Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 (and the also violent liberation of the town in 1945), but the structure did suffer extensive damage. For example: Only one original stained glass window survived World War II.
In 1985, the church closed down because service attendance had fallen back dramatically. After years of discussion, protest and a possible listing as *Rijksmonument* (a national heritage site), it was finally torn down by order of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht in 1990. A redevelopment of the site was never realised. Today, visitors will find a small park (set up and maintained by local residents) on the lot where the Sint-Eusebiuskerk once proudly stood.
This lost gem must not be confused with *another* church in Arnhem, namely the large protestant church also dedicated to Saint Eusebius that is still present in the heart of the town. To differentiate between the two structures, this church was known as the *Kleine Eusebius* (‘Little Eusebius’), whilst the protestant house of God was and still is known as the *Grote kerk* (‘Great church’).
EDIT: Formatting, replaced some words and altered sentence.
EDIT II: Thankfully, some important pieces that belonged to the Little Eusebius – including a silver reliquary bust of the saint and a pipe organ made by the renowned Gradussen family – were saved and transferred to other churches.
EDIT III: This photograph was made in 1972.
SumDudeInNYCsays
Damn, that’s a gorgeous building. I’m assuming it was torn down because it fell into disrepair.
DutchMitchellsays
So many of the most beautiful churches were torn down..very sad because they create really nice skylines and they are just beautiful. It’s sad that a different purpose could not be found.
corruptrevolutionarysays
Can we stop destroying these churches? Turn it into a library or meditation house or something.
JohnPlayerSpecialRed says
Built between 1864 and 1865, the Sint-Eusebiuskerk was an icon of the Dutch town of Arnhem for more than a century. The Roman Catholic hall church located at the city’s Nieuwe Plein (at the edge of the old town centre) was designed by architect H.J. van den Brink. It was considered his magnum opus. The Gothic Revival church lived through the brutal Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 (and the also violent liberation of the town in 1945), but the structure did suffer extensive damage. For example: Only one original stained glass window survived World War II.
In 1985, the church closed down because service attendance had fallen back dramatically. After years of discussion, protest and a possible listing as *Rijksmonument* (a national heritage site), it was finally torn down by order of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht in 1990. A redevelopment of the site was never realised. Today, visitors will find a small park (set up and maintained by local residents) on the lot where the Sint-Eusebiuskerk once proudly stood.
This lost gem must not be confused with *another* church in Arnhem, namely the large protestant church also dedicated to Saint Eusebius that is still present in the heart of the town. To differentiate between the two structures, this church was known as the *Kleine Eusebius* (‘Little Eusebius’), whilst the protestant house of God was and still is known as the *Grote kerk* (‘Great church’).
EDIT: Formatting, replaced some words and altered sentence.
EDIT II: Thankfully, some important pieces that belonged to the Little Eusebius – including a silver reliquary bust of the saint and a pipe organ made by the renowned Gradussen family – were saved and transferred to other churches.
EDIT III: This photograph was made in 1972.
SumDudeInNYC says
Damn, that’s a gorgeous building. I’m assuming it was torn down because it fell into disrepair.
DutchMitchell says
So many of the most beautiful churches were torn down..very sad because they create really nice skylines and they are just beautiful. It’s sad that a different purpose could not be found.
corruptrevolutionary says
Can we stop destroying these churches? Turn it into a library or meditation house or something.
sauvignonblanc__ says
**Information:** this is the [Kleine Eusebiuskerk](https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleine_Eusebiuskerk).
There is another Church in Arnhem which shares the same name as the above but it is nicknamed [de Grote Kerk](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Eusebius%27_Church,_Arnhem).
*First article in Dutch; the second is in English.