Discovery Site | Beneath the Church Tower - Voerendaal

The Saint Lawrence Church is the only one in the Netherlands to have received a papal consecration. It was consecrated by Pope Leo IX on 10 August 1049. Around the church, archaeological research in 2015 led to important discoveries that shed new light on the village’s history.

For a long time, it was assumed that this 11th-century church had stood in isolation among large estates, since the first mention of a village community in Voerendaal didn’t appear until the early 17th century. But the research uncovered foundations of various structures, including floors, wells, and water cellars.

The oldest stone foundations date back to the late Middle Ages, but it’s likely there are even older remains hidden underneath these layers. From the 16th century onwards, more buildings started popping up in the area. Even into the 20th century, older walls were reused as foundations for newer buildings.

In addition to architectural elements, many everyday objects were found, giving insights into how earlier residents lived and ate. These finds suggest there was already a vibrant community around the church much earlier than previously thought.

The exact location of this archaeological site is the paved little park with benches next to the Saint Lawrence Church, across from house number 26.