The Largest Museum in the Netherlands, the national project of Museum Catharijneconvent in which (international) churches, synagogues, temples and mosques are opened to the general public, will expand further in 2024. The Al Hijra Mosque in Leiden will join on Friday, May 3, becoming the 23rd ‘museum hall’.
Special wood carving
Just outside the historic city center of Leiden is the Al Hijra Mosque, which opened in 2018. Architect Hamid Oppier made a postmodern design for this mosque. Various examples from Islamic architecture come together in this design. The typical Moroccan square minaret, for example, is based on the minaret of an ancient mosque in Marrakesh. Not only the exterior, but also the interior of the mosque is impressive. Artist Mustapha Boumaiz made beautiful wood carvings for the prayer hall. When the sun shines into the prayer hall through the large windows, the space is filled with the warm glow of the brown wood. As a tribute to Moroccan woodcarving, Boumaiz included all kinds of typically Moroccan, symmetrical shapes in his work. The wood carving art can be admired throughout the prayer hall.
The hidden beauty of places of worship
On holiday abroad we find it very normal to visit synagogues, cathedrals, temple complexes or mosques. Yet many people in the Netherlands pass by it unnoticed. And yet there are beautiful places of worship all over the country. The power of the Largest Museum in the Netherlands lies in making beautiful treasures visible that currently remain hidden from the general public. It starts the moment someone steps over the threshold of a mosque, temple, synagogue or (international) church for the first time. Coming into contact with the stories behind the heritage, via the audio tour or the viewing map, will do the rest. In this way, the Largest Museum in the Netherlands is helping to build a Netherlands in which everyone talks to others openly and with curiosity, about what we find beautiful, what touches and inspires us.
Viewing map and audio tour
The new locations not only increase the national coverage of places of worship to visit, but also the variety in religious traditions, historical periods, architecture and works of art. An audio tour or viewing map is available at all locations that offers surprising insights and takes the visitor along the highlights. The Largest Museum in the Netherlands is an initiative of Museum Catharijneconvent and is made possible by the Friends Lottery and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Participation of the mosques is financed by the Mondriaan Fund.
