In 1409, in a small village north of Amsterdam, a peasant named Geertje Willemsdr saw the Virgin Mary standing on a frozen pool of water. Mary asked that a chapel be built on the spot and promised that those who came in devotion would find help in their distress. The apparition became known as Onze Lieve Vrouw ter Nood—Our Lady in Distress—and for over six centuries, pilgrims have journeyed to Heiloo seeking Mary's intercession in times of trouble.
The Reformation destroyed the original shrine in the 16th century, and Catholicism in the Netherlands was driven underground. But devotion to Our Lady of Heiloo never died. When Catholic emancipation came in 1853, the faithful returned to rebuild. Today the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Distress welcomes pilgrims to a modern chapel complex built around the site of the original apparition. The holy well, fed by the pool where Mary appeared, remains the heart of the shrine.
For Dutch Catholics, Heiloo represents resilience—a devotion that survived persecution and still offers hope to those in need.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The apparition to Geertje Willemsdr occurred during a time of social upheaval. The woman had fled to the frozen pool seeking refuge—the tradition holds she was escaping a pursuer, possibly during a period of civil conflict. Mary appeared to comfort her and promised a sanctuary.
A chapel was built and became a major pilgrimage destination in the medieval Netherlands. The shrine flourished until the Reformation, when Calvinist iconoclasm destroyed the chapel in 1573. Catholic worship was forbidden in the Dutch Republic, and public devotion to Our Lady of Heiloo ceased.
For nearly three centuries, devotion continued in secret. When the Netherlands restored religious freedom to Catholics in 1853, efforts began to restore the shrine. The Runxput spring—the pool where Mary appeared—was rediscovered, and a new chapel was built in 1905.
The current sanctuary complex was developed throughout the 20th century. The main chapel, built in 1975, accommodates large pilgrimages. The shrine has been recognized by the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam as the principal Marian pilgrimage site in the Netherlands.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Heiloo
Sanctuary of Our Lady in Distress (Onze Lieve Vrouw ter Nood)
The Netherlands' principal Marian shrine
The sanctuary complex includes the main pilgrimage chapel, the Runxput well chapel marking the apparition site, and extensive gardens for meditation. Pilgrims draw water from the holy well for blessing.
Runxput Chapel
The small chapel built over the holy well—the pool where Mary appeared—remains the spiritual heart of the shrine. Pilgrims come to pray and collect blessed water.
Way of the Cross
Stations of the Cross wind through the shrine's wooded grounds, providing space for meditation.
Pilgrim Center
Facilities for pilgrimage groups, including meeting rooms and refreshments.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Our Lady in Distress — Last Sunday of May
The principal pilgrimage of the year, drawing Catholics from across the Netherlands.
Monthly Marian Celebrations
Regular devotions on the first Saturday of each month.
Pilgrimage Season — Year-round
The shrine welcomes pilgrims throughout the year, with special programs during Marian months (May and October).
🛏️ Where to Stay
Golden Tulip Alkmaar ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Modern hotel in nearby Alkmaar (7 km). Reserve this hotel
Hotels in Amsterdam (35 km south) — The capital offers extensive accommodation options.
NH Alkmaar ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Business hotel in Alkmaar. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is 40 km south.
By Train: Heiloo has its own train station on the Amsterdam-Alkmaar-Hoorn line. From Heiloo station, it's a 15-minute walk to the sanctuary.
By Car: From Amsterdam, take the A9 north to the A22, then the N203 to Heiloo. The sanctuary is on the Hoogeweg, well-signposted.
📚 Further Reading
C. Caspers. Bedevaarten in Nederland: Heiloo en andere Mariale pelgrimsoorden — Dutch Marian pilgrimage sites (in Dutch).
🔗 Useful Links
Sanctuary of Our Lady in Distress — Official site with pilgrimage programs and devotions.
Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam — Diocesan information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Warfhuizen (100 km north) — Hermitage of Our Lady of the Garden Enclosed.
Brielle (80 km south) — Shrine of the Martyrs of Gorkum.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Under thy protection we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers." — Sub Tuum Praesidium, earliest known Marian prayer, c. 250 AD
