The Whale Church: Uncovering Maastricht’s Mysterious Past
Well, well, well! What do we have here? This week, in an unexpected twist worthy of a plot straight from a gothic novel, some ancient skulls and mysterious bones have been discovered lurking beneath the floorboards of the Walloon Church in Maastricht. It seems like even the church couldn’t keep its skeletons in the closet, or should I say, under the floor!
A Renovation with a Twist
Picture this: a contractor, likely more accustomed to fixing leaky roofs than digging up history, goes rummaging around in the cellar—thumbs up for modern-day treasure hunting, right? Initially looking for a spot for the meter cupboard, he unexpectedly stumbles upon a crypt-like pit that goes down nearly three meters. Talk about an upgrade! Forget 50 shades of grey; this guy just found himself in ’50 shades of graves’!
“I grabbed my camera, and then, well, you can guess what came next,” remarked Klaas Koelewijn, the chairman of the Walloon Church Foundation. Imagine being handed a camera and told to take a selfie with history’s attic! But instead of a quaint vacation picture, he came face-to-skull with at least ten ancient remains. Just don’t forget to say cheese, Klaas!
What Lies Beneath?
The church’s history goes as far back as 1732, much older than most of us will ever feel, especially on a Monday morning! Built over what once was the Hilarius Chapel, the Walloon Church has been undergoing some serious renovations recently. Unfortunately, those renovations may have just encountered a spooky snag that could delay their swift return to a cultural hub.
Indeed, while the overall ambition is to breathe new life into the church—turning it into a vibrant meeting spot—this little discovery has thrown a crypt-sized wrench into the planning. And let’s face it, you can’t just charm your way through a problem like this with a shiny bucket of paint and a few social events.
Welcome to the Wild World of Archaeology
The revelation of a near-mass grave poses the burning question: who are these skeletons? Was there a representative of the Last Supper in there? More likely, it suggests they may be the unfortunate souls from the plague epidemic in 1669. After all, when it rains, it pours, and given the severity of the epidemic, many didn’t exactly find the safest resting places!
Is it a case of bad luck for the contractor or historical destiny? Either way, his original plan to fix the meter cupboard might be overshadowed by the fact that he just uncovered a significant archaeological site! How’s that for an unexpected twist!
Funding the Undead
Of course, with great discoveries come great financial and logistical challenges. The original renovation, already behind budget—after all, 3.5 million euros is not exactly pocket money—now faces further expense. More scans and explorations in the name of historical preservation could push the budget into the realm of a lavish royal wedding. “In the long term, this is a great find; in the short term, we might just need to bribe the ghosts for some financial advice!” quipped Koelewijn.
Final Thoughts
In an age where many old buildings face the threat of being turned into yet another hipster café or luxury apartments, the Whale Church stands out as a relic of history boldly refusing to fade away. So, what’s our takeaway? If you thought the scariest thing in church was the sermon, think again! The reality is that beneath our feet lie centuries of stories waiting to be told—some perhaps a tad too haunting for the faint of heart.
So next time you’re at a renovation site, keep your eyes peeled. You never know what hidden treasures, or skeletons, might be unearthed. And remember, both history and humor are best served with a healthy dash of surprise!
A glimpse of the Walloon Church before its unexpected archaeological find.
Stay tuned, folks! Who knew a simple church renovation could spin into a tale worthy of a dramatic series? The plot thickens in Maastricht!
WikipediaThe Whale Church in Maastricht
NOS Nieuws•gisteren, 23:04
Ancient skulls and bones have been found under the floor of the Walloon Church in Maastricht. They were located in a cellar, the existence of which was previously unknown. A contractor came across the space during renovation work.
The contractor was working on the meter cupboard last week and had to go into the ground one and a half meters to do so. When he noticed that there was more than just an air space, he called Klaas Koelewijn, chairman of the Walloon Church Foundation. “He told me to come over and see what he had found,” says Koelewijn. There appeared to be a space almost three meters deep under the entrance to the church.
Klaas KoelewijnThe space underground
The contractor had made a hole a few centimeters in size, says Koelewijn. “I grabbed my camera and put my arm in it. When I looked back at the images, I saw that there was a whole vault under the entire entrance. With at least ten skulls and a lot of bones on the floor.”
Renovation
The Walloon Church was built in 1732 in the center of Maastricht, according to the regional broadcaster L1 News. The Hilarius Chapel used to stand on that spot, but it became too small.
The church has been renovated since last March. It should become a meeting place with a cultural and social function, says Koelewijn. “But the church function is retained.” The renovation was planned to be completed at the end of December.
That will no longer work, Koelewijn fears. “In the long term this is a great find. But in the short term it is a planning and financial challenge.” The renovation is funded by subsidies from the province and municipality and by donors. There is a total of 3.5 million euros in the treasury, but 3.9 million is needed. “And this is yet another additional cost.”
In the coming weeks, a scan will be made of the entire floor of the church, because the contractor suspects that there are more spaces under the church. “We then make a careful plan to open the floor.”
Mass grave
It is not yet clear where the bones come from. It could be that these are people who were buried in the chapel before the church was built almost 300 years ago. “Maybe the people who had to make the new church floor came across the bones and put everything in the basement,” says Koelewijn.
Another option is that it is a mass grave from the last plague epidemic in the city, in 1669. “The church may have been built on that.”
