A monumental church stands a stone’s throw from the Scheveningen beach as a meeting place between east and west. This church was transformed into a multifunctional center that focuses mainly on spirituality and health, art and culture. Chizone likes to think of itself as a spiritual department store on the coast.
Church community
As Lourdes Church, Chizone was once the center of a flourishing church community. Over the decades, however, the house of worship lost its purpose and because no services have been held in the church since 2005, it became a building without a purpose. The chapel (which contains a copy of the Lourdes Grotto) is still open for prayer and church ceremonies. Because the structure was on the one hand too beautiful and too special to demolish and on the other hand too unusual to find a new purpose, the years passed in vain and in vain.
History of the Lourdes Church
The Catholic Our Lady of Lourdes Church is located near the Kurhaus in Scheveningen. There was already a small chapel on the spot where this church stands in the Middle Ages. Construction of the current church started in 1913, but was interrupted by WWI. The house of worship was not completed until 1925. The original design was by the famous architect Alexander J. Kropholler, who later had trouble with the ‘beauty commission’. That is why one of his students, CM van Moorsel, completed the work. Following the wedding of the daughter of the Hague real estate magnate Reinder Zwolsman, the church was expanded in 1965 with a church tower by the now very elderly architect Kropholler. Zwolsman felt that a church bell should be a part of a wedding and that is why it was missing.
Multifunctional center
Found location
Brothers Noël and Maarten de Bruin had been looking for a space to realize their idea of a multifunctional center for some time. It should become a center focused on spirituality and health, art and culture and would be called Chizone. They had their eye on the monumental building near the Circustheater in Scheveningen, a stone’s throw from the beach.
Chinese massage technique and traditional Chinese medicine
The money the brothers earned from their The Hague theater restaurant ‘Toussaint’ served to finance the renovation. Multifunctional studio spaces were created in part of the church, the minimalist design of which is reminiscent of a Japanese interior. Yet the countless stained glass windows with religious images leave no doubt that it was originally a Catholic church. A room in the rooms is used for meditation, yoga and tai chi meetings, among other things. Cushions are provided behind a curtain on which students can sit or lie comfortably. In another room there is an adjustable massage chair, suitable for acupuncture and gigong Tuina, a Chinese massage technique. Yet another room is especially suitable for workshops. Workshops on, among other things, ‘five-element nutrition’. This diet is in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine.
Support from ASN Bank
Position of the De Bruin brothers
Because the potential of the former Lourdes Church as a spiritual meeting place was far from being fully utilized, a large-scale renovation had to take place again. After all, the new studios only occupied a small part of the building and there was still plenty of space left, which was suitable for all kinds of activities. During the summer months of 2010, the rest of the church was made ready for use. This happened with financing from ASN Bank, which both De Bruin brothers were very happy with. After all, all their money had already gone into the first renovation and they wanted to continue. It also provides support when an organization such as ASN Bank believes in the project.
Position of ASN Bank
Geert Fijnaut of ASN Bank says that Chizone is a great initiative. First of all, it maintains a church. A building that gives a face to the coastal part of Scheveningen. In addition, the project of the de Bruin brothers fits completely into the spirit of the times: reflecting on health and spirituality in a different way. ASN Bank supports the project together with Fonds 1878. This fund acts as guarantor and ASN Bank provides the loan. The project therefore provides very safe financing for the bank.
Future
Congresses, symposia and meetings
The location was festively opened in mid-September 2010. The main aim was to warm up potential customers to the many possibilities of the building, such as holding conferences and symposiums in the large church hall. Chizone can easily accommodate four to five hundred people. Congresses, symposia and company meetings should soon make the chimney smoke. After all, such activities are necessary for healthy business operations and the de Bruin brothers can continue to do what they consider important, namely providing a platform for reflection and education. It is an ideal location: close to the beach and with many hotels in the immediate vicinity. However, the company wants to be much more than just an attractive conference location. After all, meetings with a specific theme can also be held, such as ‘The Japanese Experience’ . Workshops are also held such as calligraphy, sushi making, ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and much more. The large room can be provided with different moods . With sophisticated theater lighting, all kinds of moods can be created, depending on the type of meeting that will be held. Noël also wants to install ‘water points’ throughout the building. With a special filter for even cleaner water. Visitors can enjoy a nice fresh glass of wine there for free.
Retreats
At the back of the church is the choir that will be converted into a space suitable for retreats, such as meditative weekends. The tapered roof structure above the arched opening overlooking the church hall will be fitted with glass. A kitchen is being built behind the choir, because participants of a meditation weekend like to be able to cook themselves.
Contribute to society
Chizone is a foundation, so a non-profit organization. That is why Chizone deliberately keeps the rent for the studio spaces low and starting entrepreneurs receive a discount on top of that. In this way they have already helped a novice acupuncturist to get his practice off the ground. Another idea is to have a special afternoon for children with games and activities. With a discount for people with a limited budget.
Accessible and accessible to everyone
Because Chizone wants to be accessible and accessible to everyone, the company started in the autumn of 2010 with a meditation walk-in hour. Every morning between seven and eight. This completes the circle. Although the religious community has disappeared, the Lourdes Church has a social function again and that is the purpose for which it was once built. news highlighted