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Historically beautiful
St Laurentius church in Oud Gastel is a beautiful church with a rich history. As early as the 13th century, when the friars of the Abbey of Hemiksem went to West Brabant to cultivate the land, the land of Gestele arose between the rivers Mark and Vliet. This area covered the territory of the Halderberge municipality. Bovendonk in Hoeven was the place from where the friars and monks worked on the land.
Two other churches have stood on the site of the current church, one that served until the mid-15th century and the one whose tower still stands today, built around 1450. This new church was built in the late Gothic style. Wars and decay created a dilemma in the late 19th century: complete renovation or new construction. Preparations began in 1898. In 1905, construction started in the neo-Gothic style under the direction of Gerardus Jacobus van Swaaij, who had earlier also been responsible for the front of the Basilica of Oudenbosch.
St Laurentius Church
The "new" church in Oud Gastel is of a very different style and stands out among the other West Brabant churches for its rich decoration. The church can be visited from May to September daily from 9am to 5pm.
The Lady Chapel is free to visit. The church is accessible up to the fence at the back of the church.
Services
Every Sunday at 9:30 am, there is a celebration at St Laurentius Church.
Guided tours
The guides will be happy to tell you more about the church during a group tour. A tour for up to 15 people costs €25.00. Each additional person will be charged €2.50 per person. Reservations for a guided tour can be made via the online ticket shop