The Sint-Dimpna Church, built in the period 1349-1570, is a beautiful example of Demer Gothic. Originally founded as a pilgrimage church, it is without doubt one of the most beautiful and important reminders of the unique past of the Merciful Stede. According to the legend of Saint Dimpna, the Irish king's daughter Dimpna and her confessor Gerebernus were buried here after they were murdered.
You can find no fewer than 5 Flemish “top pieces” in the Sint-Dimpnakerk. The St. Dimpna Retable and the Passion Retable had been on the list for some time, and the Apostle Retable was recently added to this list. The other 'top pieces' of the Sint-Dimpnakerk are the 'Merodekes', two paintings attributed to the Haarlem painter Jan Mostaert, painted around 1525. You can admire these gems in the 'secret', a small room in the church that until recently remained off limits to the public, but now houses a number of church treasures that are beautifully displayed. The renaissance tomb of the de Merode family is also an absolute eye-catcher.

Source: visit-geel.be/sint-dimpnakerk

Translated by Google •

March 8, 2025

Church built in the period 1349-1570 on the site of an older Romanesque house of worship. Traditionally known place of pilgrimage in honour of Saint Dymphna, patron saint against insanity who, according to 13th century legend, was murdered by her father in a fit of madness in this place in the year 600; from 1565 to 1797 collegiate church served by a chapter of canons, in 1874 elevated to the second parish church of Geel. The veneration of and pilgrimage to Saint Dymphna gave rise to the unique family nursing of Geel.

Oriented three-aisled cruciform basilica with nave, northern aisle and transept from 1349-circa 1480, built in Demer Gothic (use of iron sandstone for finishing, columns without capitals), southern aisle rebuilt after collapse in the mid-15th century, choir with radiating chapels in Brabantine late Gothic from the second half of the 15th century (1470-1490), northern portal from around 1500 in the same style, tower - after the collapse of a first tower in 1541 - built in Kempen late Gothic (1542 to around 1570), never finished tower raised to its current height during restoration from 1949-1952 to a design by J. Schellekens. Work on the church around 1585 halted due to lack of funds. To the south of the church, a so-called "sick room" from 1683 or 1687 built in (neo)traditional style to replace a first sick room from 1475, rebuilt again in 1949 after war damage; sacristy (1949) in the southern choir axil in neotraditional style. Church damaged during bombings in 1944, restored in 1952-1953 to a design by provincial architect J. Schellekens and restored in 1985-1992 to a design by M. Vangenechten from 1980. Cemetery wall and water pump from 1759, pump restored in 1996.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage 2025: Parish Church of Saint Dimpna, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/52365

Translated by Google •

Viviane

February 11, 2025

The Sint-Dimpnakerk is a Gothic church in Geel. In terms of architectural style, it is considered to be part of the Demer Gothic style. It is a cruciform basilica with a crossing tower and a heavy main tower.
The church is dedicated to Saint Dymphna, who according to legend must have been beheaded and buried here in 600: if one wrote 30 may six hundred years - s. Dymphna here beheaded is from her own father. It was a pilgrimage church, where mainly healing was sought for psychiatric patients. The original core of Geel may have been located here, but this gradually moved to the current Market, where the Sint-Amandskerk is located, which functions as the oldest parish church in Geel.
Construction of the current church began in 1349. It was built of white sandstone. In 1489 it was ravaged by fire, after which it was rebuilt and expanded. This concerns in particular the massive tower, decorated with bacon layers of white sandstone and brown iron sandstone. Construction lasted until 1585, but the tower was never completed.
In 1532, Jan III van Merode, lord of Geel, founded a college of 10 vicars to serve the church and to celebrate Masses for the pilgrims. This was elevated to a chapter in 1562. In 1566, the iconoclasm raged, during which the statues that adorned the portal were destroyed. During the closed period (end of the 18th century), the Sint-Dimpnakerk was confiscated and sold publicly, but in 1801 the Catholics got the church back. It was not until 1874 that the Sint-Dimpnakerk was given the function of parish church, making it the second parish church in Geel-Centrum.
The church suffered major damage in 1944, but the interior remained intact, thanks to the strong vaults. Restoration followed from 1950-1952.

Translated by Google •

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Location: Geel, Turnhout, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium

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