This chapel in Rotterdam merges Catholic architecture with contemporary design

Think of Catholic churches in the Netherlands, and the Renaissance-revival of Amsterdam’s St. Nicholas church or the Neoclassical style of St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral in Brema may come to mind.

But in Rotterdam, Catholic architecture met contemporary design giving rise to one of the best examples of modern Catholic style. The hypnotic curves of St. Mary of the Angels, built in 2001 inside the Catholic Cemetery of St. Lawrence, are at once contemporary and eternal.

To visit this modern Catholic jewel, take bus number 38 from Rotterdam Central Station and get off at the “Nieuwe Crooswijkseweg” stop. St. Lawrence cemetery and the Chapel of St. Mary of the Angels are on your right.

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