The best city hikes and walks in Chaamse Bossen

It is also certain that around 1500 a new stone church was built in Gilze, a cruciform church with a tower. But it didn't stand there for long. In 1584, plundering soldiers set it on fire. Only a ruin remained. The parishioners provisionally sealed off a small part to still be able to use the church. Because it would take a long time before they had enough money to start the reconstruction. Only in 1609 were the tower and the nave restored; the two transepts were still open at that time. And it was 1617 before the church was completely finished again. This year still stands at the top of the middle gable of the church. The entrance was also in that same gable at the time, but the parishioners later bricked it up with a tombstone. In the current church, this is the oldest part. Despite all efforts, the Catholics lost their church again more than thirty years later. And from 1648 onwards, they had to make do with a hidden or barn church. This was because after the Peace of Münster, the Protestants also took over the churches. When the Catholics were allowed to use their church again in 1818, after one hundred and seventy years, it soon became apparent that the building had become too small. The number of parishioners had increased considerably over the years. Therefore, between 1880 and 1881, it was enlarged and embellished. Two side aisles were added along the nave.

On the outside of the church of Petrus’ Banden in Gilze is the year 1617. That was when the reconstruction of the church that had been destroyed in 1584 was completed. That happened as a result of the war actions around Gilze. https://www.bhic.nl/ontdekken/verhalen/de-sint-petrus-bandenkerk-in-gilze

In 1994, a wooden well was found during excavation work. This well is archaeological proof that Gilze is at least 1000 years old. Experts call the well unique in its kind for the Netherlands and even for Europe.

This Chapel of Thanksgiving was founded in 1950 because, miraculously, Rijen was not hit by the many heavy bombings during the Second World War. The memorial also commemorates five Rijnse soldiers who died in the Second World War or during the battle in the former Dutch East Indies.

On the site of the current church there was a small church that was returned to the Catholics in 1815. Around 1900 the parish had about 1300 Catholics. The church had become far too small and expanding the old church was not considered an option. It was decided to build a new, larger church building. A design by the architect J.H.H. was chosen. van Groenendaal from 's-Hertogenbosch. This took the Maria Ascension Church in Breda from 1879 architect J.J. van Langelaar as a starting point for the new church building. When the architect was ready and the plans were approved, the old church was demolished in 1905 to make way for the new large neo-Gothic church. On May 29, 1906, the church was solemnly blessed by Bishop Mgr. J. Leyten of the Diocese of Breda. The church has 1025 seats. Four bells are hung in the tower, two old ones from the previous church and two new ones. The oldest bell from 1532, by Jacob Waghevens from Mechelen, is now in the carillon museum in Asten. The other old clock is from 1616 by Pieter van den Geheim, also from Mechelen.

This parsonage was built in 1926, probably on the foundations of a former parsonage. Commissioned by, as it was called at the time, 'the Roman Community of Rijen'. The design is by the Oosterhout architect A.W. Oomen. Built in traditionalist shapes. The building is used as a parsonage and parish service center.

The three connected houses were built in 1923 by order of the Theeuwes brothers in forms of transitional architecture. The design is by the Hoensbroek architect M. Nundesser.

Built in 1920 as semi-detached houses on behalf of the architect P. Aarts from Rijen and designed according to his own design. In 2006, commissioned by J.M. Tromp from Rijen renovated and enlarged. Architect unknown.