St Eusebius' Church

St Eusebius' Church is a 15th-century Gothic church in the heart of Arnhem, notable for its tower (which offers panoramic views from an observation platform accessible by lift), its turbulent wartime history, and its extraordinary interior decoration. The church was heavily damaged in 1944 during the Battle of Arnhem and substantially rebuilt in the post-war decades.

The interior contains a remarkable series of artworks: the floor mosaics and wall decorations by Herman Makkink depict magnified images of micro-organisms — cells, bacteria, diatoms — creating a surreal but somehow appropriate environment in a medieval Gothic church. The tower elevator takes visitors up to a viewing platform with excellent views over the Rhine and the surrounding landscape. Guided tours are available and the church doubles as a venue for concerts and events.

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A story
St Eusebius' Church was almost completely destroyed in the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. The 15th-century Gothic tower survived but the nave was gutted. Reconstruction began in 1959 and wasn't completed until 2005 — a rebuilding process of 46 years. The interior now contains a remarkable series of microbe and cell-structure artworks by the artist Herman Makkink, making it the only church in the world decorated with enlarged images of organisms usually seen only under a microscope.

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