Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Hartebrug Church (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)

Hartebrug Church (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)

Highlight • Religious Site

Hartebrug Church (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)

Recommended by 71 hikers out of 75

Save

Location: Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Hartebrug Church (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)

4.7

(32)

233

hikers

1. Rembrandt Park, Leiden – Morspoort, Leiden loop from Leiden Centraal

6.45km

01:39

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

4.7

(13)

hikers

2. De Valk Mill – Leiden City Hall loop from Leiden Centraal

7.07km

01:48

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

4.6

(8)

hikers

3. Koornbrug, Leiden – De Valk Mill loop from Leiden Centraal

5.57km

01:25

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

Tips

🥾Ruben🍻

October 30, 2022

Roman Catholic parish church, built in 1836 by Th. Molkenboer. It was the first openly Catholic church after Catholics were allowed to profess their faith publicly again from 1798. The original dome tower was replaced in 1892. The name refers to the Hartebrug, which lay here over the (now filled in) Mare. Popularly called the Coeliekerk, after the saying on the facade: "Hic domus Dei est et porta coeli" (Here is the house of God and the gate of heaven).

Translated by Google •

Katrien

August 18, 2024

The Hartebrugkerk is named after the bridge that was in front of it at the time.
Officially it is called the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Imbachtig Recepten, but popularly it is called the Coeliekerk, after the Latin saying 'Hic Domus Dei est et Porta Coelie' above the gate.
Porta Coelie means the gate to heaven in Latin.
The building was designed by Theo Molkenboer, a well-known church builder in his time.
The Hartebrugkerk dates from 1836.

Translated by Google •

Frederik

April 30, 2025

Impressive building in the heart of the city center

Translated by Google •

Liesbeth

January 16, 2023

Hartebrugkerk and Waag with a view of the place where the old and new Rhine meet. In the summer season you will find plenty of terraces here.

Translated by Google •

Gastheerg

April 3, 2025

Beautiful stately building that you would expect to find in a city abroad.

Translated by Google •

Karin 🌍

October 13, 2025

The church with many names...The Catholic church is actually consecrated under the name "Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception."

But for most Leiden residents, this is too long. They simply call the church Hartebrugkerk (Hartebruckekerk). Named after the bridge that used to cross the Mare in front of the church. Back then, the church was still located on the water. (The Mare is a branch of the Old Rhine. This section was drained in 1953, and with it, the bridge disappeared.) But the popular name has stuck.

Some also call the church "Koeliekerk," derived from the Latin word "Coeli" (heaven). Below the triangular gable with the all-seeing eye of God is a Latin inscription: Hic Domus Dei est et Porta Coeli, which translates as: This is the house of God and the gate to heaven.

The building was designed by Theo Molkenboer around 1825 and consecrated in 1836. Previously, the "Het witte hart" brewery stood on the square. Directly above the entrance is a semicircular relief bearing the dates 1940–1945. This was installed to commemorate the victims and dead of World War II. Large sandstone plaques are set into the wall on both sides of the entrance, bearing a psalm from the Canticle of the Sun by St. Francis of Assisi in 1225.

Next to the church was a Franciscan monastery. The monks came to Leiden as early as 580 years ago.

Since the 14th century, a Chapel of Our Lady existed very close by (Onze-Liebfrauenplein). In 1364, it became the third parish church (after St. Peter's Church and the Hooglandse Church) and was called the Church of Our Lady.

Translated by Google •

Karin 🌍

October 13, 2025

INTERIOR: The main church itself is separated by an ornate gate. When there is no service, the gate is closed. In the vestibule of the church, you can see a beautiful statue of Mary with the Christ Child in her arms.

A second statue depicts St. Anthony of Padua. Today, people pray to him when they have lost something and want to find it. He is depicted here with a child in his arms, holding a piece of bread, and a poor man kneeling at his feet, to whom he offers a piece of bread.

A note on the wall provides information: "St. Anthony, best friend, help me find my..." In the past, if this prayer was answered, one had to donate a loaf of bread to the poor, the so-called "St. Anthony's bread." Nowadays, the loaf of bread is replaced by a monetary gift. Hence the inscription: "St. Anthony's bread for the poor."

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 0 m

Weather

Today

Friday 14 November

13°C

9°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Burcht van Leiden

Museum De Lakenhal

Huys te Warmont

De Drakenbrug

Oude Toren Ruin and Cemetery

Hapynionbrug

Steenschuur Canal

Molen De Put

Cronesteyn Park

View of the Oude Rijn Canal, Leiden

Broekdijkmolen

Vlietland Lake

Hartebrug Church (Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)

1. Rembrandt Park, Leiden – Morspoort, Leiden loop from Leiden Centraal

2. De Valk Mill – Leiden City Hall loop from Leiden Centraal

3. Koornbrug, Leiden – De Valk Mill loop from Leiden Centraal

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️