Perhaps surprisingly, the Groenmarktkerk is not so old. This church has a fascinating story. It involves a Flemish architect and a change of religious use. Welcome to the Groenmarktkerk in Haarlem.
The Groenmarktkerk we see today was built in 1843 and 1844. Before 2023, it was the second-oldest Roman Catholic church in Haarlem. The patron saint of the Groenmarktkerk is Antonius of Padua.
Tieleman Franciscus Suys designed the Groenmarktkerk. He also designed the Mozes en Aäronkerk in Amsterdam. Both are dedicated to Saint Antonius. The style blends neoclassicism with a touch of baroque.
Initially, the Ministry of Religious Affairs required space for 2,000 people. This led to changes in Suys’s original plan for the Groenmarktkerk. The facade was widened with plain brick. A gallery was added inside. This transformed the church from a single-nave to a three-nave structure. A second gallery was added in 1854.
The high altar is a highlight of the Groenmarktkerk. Pieter Jozef de Cuyper from Antwerp created it in 1854. Except for the marble altar table, it is made entirely of painted pinewood. The capitals are composite-style. They combine Ionic and Corinthian elements.
The altar features symbolic representations. At the top, a cross flanked by angels sits above Hope and Love figures. In the middle, God the Father holds a scepter and globe. A dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Melchizedek with bread and Aaron with incense represent priesthood.
The main scene shows Saint Francis receiving the Portiuncula Indulgence. Christ grants Francis a general pardon for all. The banner reads “placeat adire vicarium meum.” This means “go to my vicar the Pope.” Two angels hold a banner. It reads “oculi ejus in pauperem respiciunt.” This translates to “his eyes look down on the poor.” Shields display Francis’s wounds. Another shield shows the Franciscan order’s coat of arms. Saint Clara holds a monstrance. Saint Elisabeth of Hungary stands nearby. Small panels depict the Holy Martyrs of Gorkum.
The Groenmarktkerk also features side altars. Pieter Jozef de Cuyper made them around 1860. The left altar is dedicated to Mary. The retable shows the Annunciation. The angel Gabriel visits Mary. Above, a statue depicts Mary as the Immaculate Conception.
The middle altar shows a Pietà. Mary holds the dead Christ. Above, Saint Barbara stands with her tower. The legend says her father imprisoned her there. The right altar honors Saint Antonius of Padua. The retable may depict Antonius raising the dead. A statue shows Antonius as a Franciscan friar. He holds the Child Jesus and a lily. Above, Saint Joseph holds the Child. The tabernacle door shows Abraham and Isaac.
Both side altars are pinewood with marble tables. Every November, the Groenmarktkerk hosts the national Hannie Schaft Commemoration. As of 2023, the evangelical community Re:Connect uses the church.
The Groenmarktkerk has adapted to change. It continues to serve the community. The Groenmarktkerk is more than just a building. It’s a place of worship and a piece of Haarlem’s history.