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St. Willibrord Basilica

St. Willibrord Basilica

Highlight • Religious Site

St. Willibrord Basilica

Recommended by 20 hikers out of 22

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Location: Hulst, Zeeland, Netherlands

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Best Hikes to St. Willibrord Basilica

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2. Clinge Play Forest – Gentse Poort loop from Hulst

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3. Groot Eiland Estate – Gentse Poort loop from Hogeweg

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Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

December 11, 2022

Hulst's skyline is dominated by the monumental basilica, which stands in the heart of the fortified city, built in Brabant Gothic style. The 60 meter high tower is visible from miles away. Located on the highest part of Hulst, the basilica towers above the fortified city, as it were. In 2009, the H. Willibrordus Basilica was voted "Most beautiful church in the Netherlands" by listeners and a professional jury of the NCRV program Plaza.

The construction of this church was already started in the 13th century. Major expansions were realized in the following centuries. Over the centuries, the church has been rebuilt several times after several devastating tower fires. Famous master builders were involved in this. The current tower dates from four different periods. The originally Catholic church has known many different users. From 1806 it was even a simultaneous church. In 1929 the Catholics bought the Protestant part, after which an extensive restoration took place. The architectural additions increased the Catholic character and partly for this reason the church was elevated to a basilica in 1935.

More info at inulst.nl/zien-en-doen/h-willibrordusbasilica

Translated by Google •

Katrien

May 18, 2025

During the long occupation by the Spanish, the Protestants were expelled in the 17th century. As a result, Hulst is a Roman Catholic city with a basilica. Construction of the Saint Willibrord Basilica began in 1200 and it took until 1534 before it was finished. But Hulst was often a war zone and it changed religions from time to time: from 1645 to 1807 it was Protestant. From 1807 to 1929 it was even half Protestant and the other half Catholic, separated by a wall. Since 1929 it has been a full Catholic church. A thorough restoration at the end of the last century restored this basilica to its former glory. But the tower is somewhat special.

During the Second World War, in 1944, the upper tower was destroyed and replaced by what you see now. Visitors have different opinions about the beauty of the tower, but everyone completely agrees about the interior: a beautiful openness. The choir with stained glass windows from the early 19th century depict the life of Saint Willibrord and the history of the church. The church also has a beautiful and unique French-Flemish organ from the early 17th century. In 2009, this church was declared 'The most beautiful church in the Netherlands'.

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Elevation 40 m

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Friday 7 November

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Location: Hulst, Zeeland, Netherlands

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St. Willibrord Basilica

1. Gentse Poort – Pagadder Statue in Hulst loop from Hulst

2. Clinge Play Forest – Gentse Poort loop from Hulst

3. Groot Eiland Estate – Gentse Poort loop from Hogeweg

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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