St. Plechelmus Basilica and Treasury - Oldenzaal

Built of Bentheimer sandstone, St Plechelmus Basilica is named after the missionary Plechelmus, also known as Pleghelm. Irish or Scottish Plechelmus came to the Netherlands in the mid-8th century and was especially active in Twente, where he managed to convert the population to Catholicism. In the 10th century, Plechelmus was canonised by the then bishop of Utrecht. He supposedly died in a monastery in Roermond and was also buried there. In 954, his skull and some phalanges were brought to the basilica in Oldenzaal and there they remain to this day.

Throughout the centuries, pilgrims came to the basilica to honour Plechelmus and the wall next to one of the entrance doors clearly shows that many of them took some grit from the church by scraping it out of the sandstone wall.

In 2006, when the deanery (Catholic board) of Twente conceived the plan to no longer keep the basilica as a parish church, there was much opposition to this. Cabaret artist, writer and composer Herman Finkers immediately joined this resistance and, partly due to his efforts, the plan eventually fell through. Masses composed by Finkers were performed in St Plechelmus Basilica, including the famous St George's Day Mass.

Tours of the basilica tower are provided by the tower guides of VVV Oldenzaal throughout the year. In the basilica's treasury, a large number of church objects are kept, including choir caps and paraments, a monstrance, an early 14th-century calendarium and the silver reliquary of Plechelmus from 1480.

Sign up at the tourist office if you want to climb the tower!