Church of St John the Baptist, Waalwijk

Unique to the Netherlands, this neo-byzantine church is part of the ‘Largest Museum in the Netherlands’, an exclusive family of the finest churches in the country. The building is a prominent landmark – with its nineteen copper domes and minaret-like bell tower, this Roman Catholic church dominates the skyline of Waalwijk. Experts are of the opinion that it is one of the Netherlands’ most iconic churches, and undoubtedly worth a visit. Visits are completely free, while the cultural/historical audio tour costs three Euros.
Immerse yourself in the history of this religious-historical building, which is located less than fifteen minutes from major attractions such as Efteling, Loon and Drunen Dunes and the picturesque fortified town of Heusden.

Waalwijk
A visit to Sint Jan’s Kerk, Waalwijk would be best combined with a visit to museum, knowledge centre and lab Het Schoenenkwartier, where you can learn all about the shoe and leather history of Waalwijk. In addition, Waalwijk’s convivial city centre offers a wide range of shopping, lunch and dining options.
Alternatively, you can spend your entire visit inside the church building, where there is plenty to experience and to learn. It is open for visits and sightseeing five afternoons a week. Group tours of 75 minutes are available on request and can be conducted in German and English as well!

Jewel in the crown of the city
The multilingual staff have been praised for their friendly welcome: ‘I have visited many churches, but this one is undoubtedly in the top three in terms of its architecture and beauty. The people who explained everything to us were also extremely friendly and committed. It’s a must-see.’ The audio tour will tell you that the entire church was built in just two years, which is quite extraordinary, especially when you consider its copper domes: ‘Sint Jan’s Kerk has nineteen domes, how amazing! It’s a real selling point for Waalwijk!’