The Eusebius Church in Arnhem ranks as one of the most important late Gothic churches in the Netherlands. After a major restoration – also supported by a contribution from Dioraphte – it is now time for a new phase. The church is being transformed into a heritage site for the general public on a much grander scale than ever before.
An increasing number of churches in the Netherlands are no longer used (exclusively) for worship and other religious activities. The same applies to the Eusebius church in Arnhem. As with many other churches, this remarkable building has a wealth of history. Following its restoration – which has been completed in 2022 after a decade of work – the time has come to open up that history to a wider public.
Arnhem’s Age of glory
Thus, in 2022, a permanent exhibition on ‘The Glory of Gelre’ opened. This period of glory covers the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Duchy of Guelders (Dutch: Gelre) was a very powerful force in Europe. Particularly under Karel van Gelre (Charles II, Duke of Guelders) (1467-1538), Arnhem was a prominent centre of power and trade. This is also the period during which the Eusebius church was built, namely between 1450 and 1550. Charles of Guelders had been one of the patrons for the construction of the church.
The Eusebius Church was already home to a permanent exhibition dedicated to the impact of the Battle of Arnhem (Operation Market Garden), the subsequent destruction of the church in September 1944 and its reconstruction. Thanks to the new permanent exhibition – which was partly realised with a contribution from Dioraphte – it plans to transform the church into a top cultural location in the province of Gelderland. It is anticipated that the Eusebius will soon welcome around 100,000 visitors a year. The location has already been granted an official museum listing and is therefore also accessible to museum card holders. This is a magnificent addition to the city of Arnhem.
The armour of Charles of Guelders
Charles II of Guelders is the central figure of the new permanent exhibition at the Eusebius Church. A centrepiece of the presentation is his original armour from 1515. Charles brought the Duchy of Guelders to its zenith and waged a protracted struggle for independence against the Habsburg Empire of Charles V. Alongside his armour, the story of Gelre is conveyed through centrepieces such as the ornate tomb for Charles II, the crypt in which he is actually buried, and other key historical exhibits in the church from this period.
