Parochie H.H Nicolaas en Barbara

This church, the oldest in Valkenburg, was established in 1281. Services began in the castle chapel and the church was started in the same year. It was dedicated to St Nicholas alone until 1600 when St Barbara was added. After the Reformation, Catholics had to share the church with the small minority of protestants, who were powerful enough to forbid Catholic use of an organ. In 1819 the church was fully returned to the Catholics. Too small, it was extended in 1833 and a new choir added in 1836. P. J. H. Cuyper added a new portal in 1891 and greatly extended the building in 1904 with chapels on both sides, a three-aisled nave behind the transept and a new choir behind that.