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Architects: Th. Asseler (1823-1879)

Theo Asseler was born in Aarlanderveen on the 12th of March 1823. He worked as a construction worker, later as a carpenter, and was employed by his uncle, the architect Th. Molkenboer, as an overseer. In this position he was involved in the construction of the Redemptorist church in Amsterdam, one of the first new churches in the Netherlands in which Gothic style and proportions were succesfully applied. Asseler was probably educated by his uncle in architectural skills and built his first own designs, a school in Amsterdam in 1862 and a presbytery in Medemblik in 1863. Although he lived in Amsterdam, he also still worked as an overseer for his uncle in Leiden. When Molkenboer died in December 1863, Asseler did not succeed him and became a self-employed architect instead.

During Asseler's short career as an architect he used a variety of styles, often showing similarities with the work of his uncle. In 1864 he extended an older neo-Classical church in Haarlemmerliede with a matching new front with turret. In 1866 and 1867 he built new churches in that style in Bergen and Boskoop. In the same period he designed several churches in an early neo-Gothic style, much like his uncle's. The first of these was probably the church in Voorschoten, a replacement for one of Molkenboer's churches. However, for most of his career he designed churches in neo-Romanesque style, with only a few in neo-Gothic style. Of his ca. 70 designs, more than 20 were churches and chapels. Several of these have been demolished since. 

Asseler died in Amsterdam on December the 27th 1879, after a short illness. At that moment he was at the height of his career. Several of his assignments were completed by A.C. Bleijs.

The following is a list of Asseler's religious work. It is possibly incomplete.

 
1864 Haarlemmerliede (NH): church Jacobus de Meerdere

Enlargement of an aisleless church in neo-Classical style with a new front in the same style.
 
1865-1868 Voorschoten (ZH): church St. Laurentius











Pseudo-basilica in neo-Gothic style.
 
1866 Bergen (NH): church HH Petrus en Paulus

Church in neo-Classical style. Demolished in 1923.
 
1866-1867 Nieuwveen (ZH): church St. Nicolaas

Church in neo-Gothic style. Tower added in 1887 by E.J. Margry.
 
1867-1868 Boskoop (ZH): church St. Johannes de Doper

Church in neo-Classical style. Demolished in 1974.
 
1867-1868 Akersloot (ZH): church Jacobus de Meerdere

Church in neo-Gothic style. Demolished in 1969.
 
1868-1870 Kudelstaart (NH): new front church St. Johannes Geboorte

New facade with tower, in neo-Classical /neo-Romanesque style.
 
1868 Roosendaal (NB): temporary church for Redemptorist monastery

No further details. Replaced by current church O.L. Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand.
 
1870 Hazerswoude (ZH): church St. Michael

Church in neo-Romanesque style. Demolished in 1985.
 
1870 Ilpendam (NH): church St. Sebastianus

Aisleless church in neo-Romanesque style.
 
1870-1871 Anna Paulowna (NH): church Maria Presentatie

Church in neo-Classical style with neo-Romanesque details.
 
1870-1871 Hansweert (Z): church O.L. Vrouw Onbevlekt Ontvangen  




Aisleless church in neo-Romanesque style.
 
1871 Spanbroek (NH): enlargement church St. Bonifatius

Enlargement of an older church. No further details. Demolished in 1909.
 
1871-1873 Warmenhuizen (NH): church Ursula en Gezellinnen

Three-aisled basilica in neo-Romanesque style.
 
1872-1874 's-Heerenhoek (Z): St. Willibrordus










Three-aisled cruciform basilica in neo-Gothic style.
 
1872 De Lier (ZH): church St. Leonardus

Aisleless church in neo-Romanesque style, with front turret. Gradually replaced after 1929.
 
1872-1874 Roosendaal (NB): church O.L. Vrouw van Altijddurende Bijstand








Basilica in neo-Romanesque style, with front with double towers. Part of a Redemptorist monastery. Enlarged in 1907-1909.
 
1872 Bovenkarspel (NH): church St. Martinus

Basilica in neo-Romanesque style. Extended with a transept, crossing tower and new choir in 1906. Demolished in 1966.
 
1873 Catrijp (NH): church St. Johannes de Doper

Aisleless church in neo-Romanesque style. Demolished in 1971.
 
1874-1875 Wervershoof (NH): church St. Werenfridus










Big three-aisled cruciform basilica in neo-Gothic style.
 
1874-1876 Weesp (NH): church St. Laurentius

 






Big three-aisled cruciform basilica in neo-Gothic style. Tower only partly completed according to Asseler's design; the upper part was built in 1900, from a design by A.A.M. Bruning. In 2016 part of the tower collapsed due to fire.
1876 Den Helder (NH): church O.L. Vrouw Onbevlekt Ontvangen

Three-aisled basilica in neo-Romanesque style.
 
1877-1879 Duivendrecht (NH): church St. Urbanus








Cruciform, aisleless church in neo-Romanesque style, with front with double towers.
 
1878-1880 Velp (NB): chapel Redemptorist convent

Aisleless chapel in neo-Romanesque style. New front added by A.J. Kropholler in 1908-1910.
 
1881 Hazerswoude (ZH): church H.H. Engelbewaarders

Aisleless church in neo-Gothic style, but with front and tower with neo-Romanesque details. Completed by A.C. Bleijs.
 
1881 Heeswijk (NB): chapel Berne abbey

Neo-Gothic chapel for an abbey, part of which was also designed by Asseler and built in 1869-1870. Completed by A.C. Bleijs. Incorporated in the present abbey church, built in 1927 from a design by H.W. Valk.
 

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