The Islamic Center Al Hijra in Leiden joins the ‘Largest Museum in the Netherlands’, reports the Leiden local newspaper Key City. This project, an initiative of Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht, aims to make the hidden beauty of churches, mosques, synagogues and temples visible to the public.
Since last year, more and more mosques, temples and international churches have also been involved in the ‘Largest Museum in the Netherlands’. The Al Hijra Mosque in Leiden is the first addition to this museum concept in 2024.
Since the launch of the ‘Largest Museum in the Netherlands’ in 2017, millions of people have had the opportunity to discover the special history, architecture and works of art of the participating churches and synagogues. With the participation of mosques, temples and international churches, Museum Catharijneconvent, the initiator, is taking the next step in making religious heritage accessible at a national level.
The Leiden Al Hijra Mosque is a particularly beautiful mosque. Architect Hamid Oppier has created a postmodern design for this Islamic house of worship, in which various elements from Islamic architecture come together. The characteristic square minaret is inspired by that of an ancient mosque in Marrakesh. The mosque is also proud of the beautiful wood carvings, which visitors see immediately upon entering.
Artist Mustapha Boumaiz has integrated several typically Moroccan, symmetrical shapes as a tribute to Moroccan woodcarving. And when the sun shines into the mosque through the large windows, the prayer hall is filled with the glow of the brown wood.
Dutch people on holiday abroad often walk into a place of worship: from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. But the Netherlands also has beautiful places of worship, according to the ‘Largest Museum in the Netherlands’. From Turkish village mosques with enchanting interiors to Moluccan churches designed by Aldo and Hannie van Eyck, and from Tibetan Buddhist stupas to Greek Orthodox churches painted from top to bottom: the range of special places of worship in the Netherlands is surprisingly large. Museum Catharijneconvent has therefore decided to broaden the spectrum with houses of worship from various traditions and times. This makes the hidden beauty of these places accessible to everyone.
This Friday, the accession of the Leiden Al Hijra Mosque to the ‘Largest Museum in the Netherlands’ will be festively celebrated. The mayor of Leiden, Peter van der Velden, among others, will give a speech. Researcher and writer Eric Roose will give a presentation that day about the history of the mosque.
