J.H.H. van Groenendael, who is also referred to as Hubertus van Groenendael, was born in a family of architects and builders in Nunhem (Limburg) and became a student at P.J.H. Cuypers' office in Roermond. He was, among other projects, involved in the construction of the Maria Magdalenakerk in Amsterdam in 1889-1891. In 1898 he moved with his family to Vught, where he founded the first patronage of Noord-Brabant, part of which was a drawing school where he taught the local youth free of charge. In 1908 he moved to nearby 's-Hertogenbosch, and in 1916 finally settled in Maastricht. Later in his career Van Groenendael cooperated with his son H.F.M. (Hubert jr.) van Groenendael.
Until 1913 Van Groenendael mostly worked in Noord-Brabant. He has built ca. 33 churches, plus various monasteries and convents, hospitals and schools. Although later in his career he increasingly worked in a neo-Romanesque style, he never completely abandoned neo-Gothic. In Noord-Brabant he mostly worked in brick, while in Limburg he also used natural stone.
Van Groenendael's work is often confused with that of his brother N.J.H. (Jacques) van Groenendael (1864-1932), who often worked in a very similar style.
The following is an incomplete list of J.H.H. van Groenendael's work.

1897-1899 's-Hertogenbosch (NB): convent Mariënburg

Large Franciscan convent in neo-Gothic style.

1901-1903 Helvoirt (NB): church St. Nicolaas

Three-aisled cruciform basilican church inspired by Lower Rhine Gothic. Often regarded as Van Groenendael's best work.

1906-1907 Dongen (NB): church St. Joseph

Three-aisled cruciform neo-Gothic church. In 1955-1956 a new western part was built. Demolished in 2009.

1906 Rijen (NB): church H. Maria-Magdalena

Neo-Gothic three-aisled basilican cruciform church, very similar to the church in Helvoirt.

1907-1909 Mariaheide (NB): church O.L. Vrouw van Goeden Raad

Late neo-Gothic cruciform basilican church. Tower and front finished 1932.

1908-1910 Sint-Michielsgestel (NB): Catholic institute for deaf children

Big monastery-like complex in neo-Gothic style with elements of Jugendstil. Symmetric ground-plan with eperate parts for boys and girls.

1911 Boxtel (NB): St. Ursula Convent

Convent designed in a combination of Jugendstil and traditional forms, with chapel in neo-Romanesque style.

1912 Mariaheide (NB): St. Nicolaashuis

Franciscan convent in sober neo-Gothic style.

1913-1916 Maastricht (L): church St. Lambertus

Church in neo-Romanesque style, with two towers at the front and a dome in Baroque-style on the crossing. Built in WW1, mostly using Kunrader stone, but also parts of former fortifications and second rate building materials.

1916 Nieuwenhagen (L): church O.L. Vrouwe Hulp der Christenen

Three-aisled church in neo-Romanesque style. Two towers of different sizes. A steeple on the crossing was removed during repairs in 1954-1958.

1917-1918 Eindhoven (NB): church St. Antonius van Padua

Church in neo-Romanesque style, based on the St. Lawrence outside the Walls in Rome. Built using Kunraderstone. Now a museum.

1919-1920 Geulle (L): church St. Martinus

Transverse enlargement of an older church. Square on the old nave Van Groenendael builds a new one in neo-Romanesque style, made of natural stone. The medieval tower now stands at the side of the church while the 17th-century choir becomes a chapel.

1921 Terhole (Z): church St. Gerardus Majella

Wide one-aisled church. Front with portal and tower. Built as a temporary church but never replaced.

Cruciform church in neo-Romanesque style with double transept and a tower at the side.

1922 Westerbeek (NB): church H. Hart

Modest church in sober late neo-Gothic style.

1924 Hoogeloon (NB): church St. Pancratius

Neo-Gothic cruciform basilican church with high transept, octagonal crossing-dome and five-sided choir closure.

Cruciform basilican church in a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles. Small crossing-tower. Demolished.

1924-1925 Aardenburg (Z): enlargement church O.L. Vrouwe Hemelvaart

 Replacement of the choir of P. Soffers church from 1850-1851. Transept and choir with dome on the crossing. Combination of neo-Gothic and Expressionist styles.

1925 Sint Willebrord (NB): church H. Willibrordus

Centralizing church with tall tower and smaller turrets on the corners. Local priest Father Bastiaansen made a first design, based on the Notre Dame du Rosaire in Lourdes which was further elaborated by Groenendael.

1926-1927 Esch (NB): church St. Willibrordus

Cruciform church with neo-Byzantine influences, incorporating a 15th-century tower.

1926 Bladel (NB): church St. Petrus' Banden

Cruciform church with a steeple at the crossing and two towers at the front, built in a mixture of Byzantine and neo-Gothic styles.

Three-aisled cruciform church in neo-Romanesque style, built of kunraderstone. Tower at the side of the front, with onion-shaped spire.

1931 Riel (NB): transept church St. Antonius Abt

New transept for an existing church.

1933-1934 Maastricht (L): church H. Theresia

Cruciform basilican church in Traditionalistic style, with freely interpreted Romanesque influences, executed in Kunrader stone. Tall tower at the back of the church, behind the transept and to the left of the choir. Two smaller towers flank the front facade. Designed in cooperation with J.H.H.'s son H.F.M. van Groenendael.

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