Saint Lambert’s Church

This church is a veritable shrine to sculptural masterpieces. Admire the finely carved statues of saints but also remember to look upward to see another masterpiece, a Marianum with a double statue of Mary facing both east and west. It is the symbol for the core of Christian life. 

The late Gothic Sint-Lambertuskerk, which is constructed of marlstone, is an iconic edifice in the village centre of Neeroeteren. The present tower was erected in 1710 to replace an earlier one which had collapsed. Noteworthy are the paintings on the Gothic vaults that date back to the early 16th century. Most of the furniture was acquired after the restoration, soon after 1900. The late Gothic statues collection is the most opulent in the region.

The story of Saint Christopher is well known: on one occasion when he was carrying a child across a river, the child appeared to become heavier and heavier. It was the infant Christ who was carrying the weight of the world. Again, Jesus is holding a globe on his knee. Research attributes this late Gothic oak sculpture dating back to approx. 1510-1530 to a group of sculptors known as the Master of Elsloo. Many of their sculptures are still well known in Dutch and Belgian Limburg. Note the fish at Christopher's feet.