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.