Born in Roermond on June 10th 1861 as the son of the famous P.J.H. Cuypers, Joseph (or Jos.) Cuypers always stood in his dominant father's shadow. He studied architecture in Delft and after his graduation in 1883 became his father's assistent, gradually taking over more of his father's work. In 1894 Jos. replaced his father, who had returned to Roermond, as head of the Cuypers office in Amsterdam. From that moment on there are a few churches officially credited to P.J.H. where at least a big influence of Jos. can be suspected. While working for his father he also designed under his own name, and work on his most important work, Haarlem's cathedral, was started in this period. Like his father, he was still a neo-Gothic architect at that time. In 1900 Jos left his father's firm to start a new one together with Jan Stuyt, another former employee of Cuypers sr.. Although the partnership only lasted for nine years, it was a very fruitful period in which the two architects managed to break the dominant position of neo-Gothicism, introducing Romanesque and Byzantine influences on a scale larger than before in Roman Catholic architecture. The last period in Jos Cuypers career is a partnership with his son Pierre jr.. In this period mostly Expressionistic churches were built.
Besides building churches, Jos Cuypers also restored many of them, as well as designing several profane buildings. His most important non-religious work is the stock-exchange in Amsterdam.

The following list concentrates on his churches primarily, but profane work ands restorations will be added gradually. Items are arranged in the best possible chronological order.

In this period Cuypers designed both houses and churches while working for his father at the same time.

1884 Amsterdam (NH): pension Oud Leyerhoven

Cuypers' first design, a house in neo-Renaissance style.

1889-1891 Nes aan de Amstel (NH): church St. Urbanus

Cuypers' first church is built in a mix of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles and has a big square tower at the crossing, similar to much of his father's later work, notably the St. Augustinus in Nijmegen (G). Deep choir. The interior is one of the first examples of the use of brick in different colours.

1890 Aarlanderveen (ZH): church H.H. Petrus en Paulus

Three-aisled church with wide central aisle and narrow side-aisles. Narrow transept. Choir with 5-sided closure and rectangular lateral chapels.

1892 Sas van Gent (Z): church O.L. Vrouw Hemelvaart

Three-aisled basilican church in modest neo-Gothic style. 1892 is the year of consecration.

1893-1894 Enschede (Ov): church St. Jozef

Three-aisled basilican church in neo-Gothic style. Nave very similar to P.J.H. Cuypers' St. Jozef in Groningen (Gr). Tower with octagonal upper segment. In 1953 a chapel was added by J. Sluymer.

1895-1933 Haarlem (NH): St. Bavo cathedral

Started before Cuypers' partnership with Jan Stuyt, who was the head-overseer at this project until 1898 and contributed much to the building in the next ten years. Originally designed in Neo-Gothic style, this church eventually showed influences from Romanesque, Byzantine and Jugendstil architecture. Work was carried out in three stages. From 1895 to 1898 the choir and chapels were built, with the construction of the main part of the church following from 1902 until 1906. Work on the towers and front portals did not start until 1927, to be finally finished in 1930.

1896-1897 Zutphen (G): restoration Vleeshuis

Restoration of a medieval Gothic building. Reconstruction of gable in neo-Gothic style.

1897-1898 Goirle (NB): church St. Johannes' Onthoofding

Three-aisled neo-Gothic cruciform church. The tower of the 15th-century predecessor was heightened and incorporated.

1898-1899 Project for a cathedral in Rangoon, Burma

There are two different designs. The first is a mix of ideas for the cathedral in Haarlem and Asian influences in details and the dome. The second design is a much more conventional neo-Gothic church. This second design was chosen, although ultimately the finished church (1908) shows many differences with Cuypers' design.

1898 Oude Tonge (ZH): church H. Maria Hemelvaart

Small neo-Gothic church with steeple-tower on the roof. Similarities with P.J.H. Cuypers' church in Nes op Ameland. Traves of side-aisles have gables and saddle-roofs. The traves next to the transept share its roof. Short rectangular choir.

1899 Rheden (G): Hotel De Roskam

Hotel in cottage-style. 

This is a very fruitful period, with some famous creations. It's not always clear who did what, though. Jan Stuyt's solo work is covered on a separate page.

1900-1903 Steenbergen (NB): church St. Gummarus

Originally a design by P.J.H. Cuypers to whom this church is often credited, but drastically altered by J. Cuypers and J. Stuyt. This is a centralizing cruciform church built in a combination of neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic styles, with a huge cone-shaped spire on top of the central tower. In 1927 a chapel was added and the south entrance enlarged to prevent sagging.

1901 Oegstgeest (ZH): church St.Willibrordus

Three-aisled neo-Gothic church. Side-aisles divided in 5 traves, each with a triplet-window, a gable and a saddle-roof square on the higher roof of the nave. Tall tower next to the choir. 1901 is year of consecration.

1901-1902 Apeldoorn (G): extension church O.L. Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming

Transept and choir added to a church dating from 1896-1898, designed by J.W. Boerbooms.

1901-1902 Breda (NB): church St. Laurentius

A big village-church built in a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles, with a tall square tower on the crossing.

1901-1903 Heerlen (L): restoration and enlargement church St. Pancratius

Addition of a transept with square crossing-tower and a new choir, all in neo-Romanesque style, to a Romanesque church. Probably by Cuypers alone.

1902-1903 Utrecht (U): church Antonius van Padua

Cruciform church with a round apse and a tower in Italian style. This was the first catholic church for centuries in Utrecht that was not built in neo-Gothic style. This church was probably mostly designed by Jan Stuyt.

1902 Handel (NB): rebuilding church Maria Hemelvaart

Alterations to an older church. New choir, addition of side-aisles to the three eastern traves of the nave.

1902-1905 Leende (NB): restoration tower St. Petrus' Banden

Restoration of medieval church tower. Strengthening of the construction and replacement of the entrance.

1903-1904 Hamont, Belgium: church St. Laurentius

Neo-Gothic cruciform basilican church. 68 metres tall square tower stands offset to the left of the facade, with four corner turrets and a tall spire with gallery on top. Entrance to the church is through the side of the tower. Due to space limits the choir was built shorter than intended.

1903-1904 Zoeterwoude (ZH): church St. Johannes Onthoofding

Three-aisled neo-Gothic church with wide central aisle and narrow side-aisles. Traves of side-aisles have gables and saddle-roofs. The tower stands at the western trave of the southern side-aisle. The transept is lower than the nave. Partly destroyed by fire in 1964.

1904 Haarlem (NH): church St. Johannes de Doper

One-aisled church with rectangular choir. 1904 is year of consecration.

1905 Breda (NB): church St. Anna

Large three-aisled basilican church in neo-Gothic style inspired by Rhineland Gothic. Low side-aisles. Small tower next to the facade, although place was reserved for a bigger tower on the north side of the church. Recently rebuilt into an office-building.

1906 Oud-Zevenaar (G): enlargement church St. Martinus

Replacement of the southern side-aisle by a taller one in neo-Gothic style.

1906 Roermond (L): St. Ursulakapel

Chapel in neo-Gothic style for an Ursuline convent. Probably by Cuypers alone.

1906-1907 's-Hertogenbosch (NB): church St. Jacob

Church inspired by Italian, Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. Built on an almost square piece of land, which made the choice for a centralizing church obvious. Cruciform building with a dome on the crossing. It seems likely that this was mostly a Jan Stuyt design.

1906-1907 Papenhoven-Grevenbicht (L) : church H. Catharina

New church for a parish comprising of two villages, located at a point between the former two churches. Cruciform basilican church in a moderate combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles. Circular windows in the clerestory. The transept is lower than the nave. The tower is positioned in front of the right-side aisle. Round apse.

1907-1908 Groenlo (G): church St. Calixtus

Rather conventional neo-Gothic cruciform basilica.

(picture courtesy of Anton Lukassen)

1907-1926 Oirschot (NB): convent Klooster Nazareth

All buildings of this complex were designed by Cuypers and Stuyt, and built in various periods. Includes chapel in neo-Romanesque style with Jugendstil-like tile-decorations.

1908-1911 Amsterdam (NH): church Allerheiligste Rozenkrans ('Obrechtkerk')

Cruciform church in neo-Romanesque style with square crossing-tower. Of this church only the front is directly visible, and since it was built in a rather rich neighbourhood the facade was richly decorated to give it a touch of class.

1909 Heerlerheide (L): church H. Cornelius

Three-aisled cruciform basilican church in neo-Romanesque style, with two towers at the front and a transept that is lower than the nave. Attributed to Stuyt and Cuypers although their partnership had been dissolved a year earlier, and possibly designed by Stuyt alone.

1909-1910 Alphen (NB): church St. Willibrordus

Replacement of a medieval church, but retaining the tower. Three-aisled nave with a transept that extends a little. Side-aisles with gables and tall windows. Destroyed in 1944 and replaced by a new church by H.W. Valk.

1909-1910 Beek (L): enlargement church H. Martinus

Enlargement of a neo-Romanesque church by L. von Fisenne built in the 1880's and -90's. New tower, extension of the nave with a trave and addition of a second transept.

1910-1911 Duiven (G): church St. Remigius

New neo-Gothic double transept with stair-turret and choir added to an otherwise medieval church. Obviously built several years after the plans were finished.

For the next twelve years Cuypers worked alone. In 1915 he returned to Roermond, where in 1920 he associated himself with his son Pierre Jr.

1911-1914 Amsterdam (NH): stock-exchange

Building in a style inspired by (neo-) Classicism. Regarded as Cuypers' most important profane building.

1911-1912 Halsteren (NB): church St. Quirinus

Village-church in neo-Romanesque style with square crossing tower. The towers are simplified versions of those of the St. Bavo cathedral.

1911-1912 Dorst (NB): church St. Marculphus

One-aisled cruciform church in neo-Gothic style with westwork-like tower.

1912-1913 Harderwijk (G): restoration church St. Catharina

Restoration in neo-Gothic style of a medieval chapel. Work apparently included the removal of the complete outer layer of bricks and its replacement by new, factory-made stone.

1918-1921 Dongen (NB): church St. Laurentius

Cuypers' first real dome-church. The original design included a tower.

In 1920 Cuypers became associated with his son Pierre Jr. (1891-1982), although occasionally he also cooperated with several others later. Probably under influence of the son the style of the designs changes radically towards Expressionism. Again, it's hard to tell which of the two architects was responsible for what, but the change in style suggests a major role for the son, who also designed several churches in a similar style on his own.
Jos. Cuypers died in Meerssen (L) in 1949.

1921-1924 Beverwijk (NH): church St. Agatha

Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.. An octagonal central space with a big dome with a lantern-tower on top, around which are several smaller spaces such as chapels and the choir, all of which are crowned by domes of their own. Some details are in an Expressionistic style.

1921 Bussum (NH): church O.L. Vrouwe

Dome-church in Expressionistic style, designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1921-1923 Tilburg (NB): church St. Gerardus Majella

Three-aisled towerless church in Expressionistic style. Wide central aisle with narrow side-aisles. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1922 Aerdenhout (NH): church St. Antonius van Padua

Church in moderate Expressionistic style, with a prominent use of wood. Intended as a temporary church but never replaced.

1922 Limbricht (L): church St. Salvius

Three-aisled church in neo-Romanesque style, very similar to much of Jan Stuyt's work. Built of irregularly shaped blocks of natural stone. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1922-1923 Renkum (G): church O.L. Vrouwe Hemelvaart

Basilican church built in a combination of Expressionistic and neo-Gothic styles. Double transept, no tower.

1922-1923 Barger-Oosterveld (Dr): enlargement church St. Gerardus Majella

Addition of side-aisles and an extension to the west to an originally neo-Gothic church. In cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1923-1925 Barger-Compascuum (Dr): church St. Jozef

Three-aisled church in moderate Expressionistic style. Square choir. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr. The church was later extended by another architect with one aisle and a tower.

1923-1924 Etten (G): church St. Martinus

Three-aisled cruciform church with narrow tower with saddle-roof.

1924 Schimmert (L): church St. Remigus

Cruciform church with the tower that has a rectangular base, the width being larger than the depth. Tower has a saddle-roof with a spire at the centre. The entire church is build of natural stone. Details inspired by Romanesque architecture. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr..

1924 Rijssen (Ov): church H. Dionysius

Three-aisled cruciform church in Expressionistic style with centralizing ground-plan.  

1925-1927 Scheveningen (ZH): church H. Antonius Abt

Basilican church in moderate expressionistic style. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1925-1927 Heemstede (NH): church O.L. Vrouw Hemelvaart

Church in Expressionistic style with centralizing ground-plan and a square tower next to the front. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1925-1927 Rotterdam (ZH): church H. Familie

Church in moderate Expressionistic style. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1926-1927 Wehe-Den Hoorn (Gr): church St. Bonifatius

Church in Expressionistic style.

1926-1928 Bergen op Zoom (NB): church O.L. Vrouwe van Lourdes

Polygonal dome-church with square tower next to the front. Tower blown up in 1944 and rebuilt after the war. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1927-1929 Nijmegen (G): Studiehuis Berchmanianum

Jesuite school. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1930 Nispen (NB): church Maria Hemelvaart

Three-aisled basilican church in Gothic-like style, with triplet-windows. Originally incorporated a 17th-century tower, which was destroyed in 1944 and in 1958 was replaced by a new one.

1931-1935 Hulst (Z): restoration church St. Willibrordus

In conjunction with P. Cuypers jr.. No further details.

1934 Roosendaal (NB): Franciscanessenklooster Mariadal

Convent in Traditionalistic style, designed in cooperation with F.B. Sturm. Chapel in Expressionistic style.

1934 Geleen (L): church St. Augustinus

Cruciform three-aisled basilican church in moderate Expressionistic style, with two towers at the front and a rectangular choir. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1935 Kelpen-Oler (L): church St. Liduïna

Church in neo-Romanesque style, designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1935 Mechelen (L): enlargement church St. Johannes de Doper

New choir of natural stone in neo-Romanesque style.

1935-1936 Altweerterheide (L): church H. Hart

Three-aisled church with rectangular choir, to the side of which stands the tower. Designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr.

1936 Lattrop (Ov): church  H.H. Simon en Judas

Cruciform basilica in Expressionistic/Traditionalistic style. Westwork with tower on top.

1936-1938 Meerssen (L): enlargement church St. Bartolomeus

Lengthening of the nave of a Gothic church with three traves in a matching style, although with modern details. New crossing-tower. In conjunction with P. Cuypers jr. A western tower was desiged but not built.

1940-1941 Haaksbergen (Ov): town hall

Building in Traditionalistic style, designed in cooperation with P. Cuypers jr. 

 1942 Meerssen (L): Vredeskapel

Small hexagonal chapel.