Heilig Land Stichting: Preaching and heritage diplomacy in post-war Netherlands

Sahar Nazari, MA Middle Eastern Studies

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

The first official Dutch pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1905, led by chaplain Arnold Suys, resulted in a unique expression of biblical Orientalism. Suys, upon return, founded the Heilig Land Stichting (‘Holy Land Foundation’, hereafter HLS) in 1915 together with artist Piet Gerrits and architect Jan Stuyt, selectively reconstructing the Holy Land in the city of Nijmegen. Suys believed knowledge of Palestine was crucial for a better understanding of the Bible, and understood the land, its people and its traditions as a ‘fifth Gospel’ that could help illuminate the other four (De Hond 116). Locations important in Jesus’ lifetime, such as Nazareth and Jerusalem, were featured. A Catholic devotional aspect was also central, as visible in the emphasis of the Via Dolorosa, enabling a pilgrimage close to home.

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Séminaire PredicMO 13 Octobre 2025

La prochaine séance du séminaire mensuel PredicMO aura lieu le 13 octobre de 13h-15h en Salle Seurat (médiathèque de la MMSH) et en ligne. Thibaud Laval présentera une communication intitulée : « Les origines de l’islamisme chiite en Irak et en Iran et la question de l’attentisme clérical : nouvelles perspectives (1945-1955) ».

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