The Van Gogh Church

Inside the church still stands the pulpit once occupied by Vincent's father. Now, it stands underneath a stained glass window displaying Vincent as a young boy and man. AnnemoonvanMaastricht (Atlas Obscura User)

Colorful stained-glass versions of some of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous works decorate the walls of this church, telling the story of the artist who began his painting career in this town many years ago.

It wasn’t in Amsterdam, London, or Paris where one of the most famous artists in history began his career. At 28 years of age, after many travels and attempts at other jobs, Vincent van Gogh returned to his parental home in Etten-Leur to dedicate himself to drawing and painting. To honor the painter’s connection to the town, Etten-Leur created the Van Gogh church, where the artist’s father once worked as a vicar. In fact, the family van Gogh lived just outside this church, where now stands town hall.

The tour through the church includes the beautiful stained glass windows displaying van Gogh’s life story and art, as well as informational panels describing Van Gogh’s history in Etten-Leur and the viewing of a documentary.

To complete your day Vincent style, you can visit the special Van Gogh bikers route, which takes you through the landscapes that inspired Van Gogh. You can also bike to van Gogh’s birthplace in the village Zundert.