Foundation Eusebius Arnhem

Updated June 11, 2025

## Foundation Eusebius Arnhem (Eusebius Church): Tower Views, WWII History, and What to Know Before You Go

On Arnhem’s Kerkplein, the Eusebius Church (often called the “Grote Kerk” / Great Church) is built to satisfy two very different kinds of travelers: people who want deep local history and people who want a high, open view of the city from a modern tower experience. The church positions itself as a place where you can move through Arnhem’s story—from medieval roots to wartime destruction and post-war rebuilding—without needing to be a specialist to follow along. Arnhem

### Fast facts (from official visitor info)
– Name / site: Eusebius Church (Eusebiuskerk), Arnhem Arnhem
– Address: Kerkplein 1, 6811 EB Arnhem, The Netherlands Arnhem
– Opening hours: Daily, 10:00–17:00 Arnhem
– Closed (per the church): January 1, Easter Sunday, 1st day of Whitsun, Christmas Day and Boxing Day Arnhem
– Admission (listed by the church):
– Children 0–8: free
– Children 8–18: €7.75
– Adults: €16.50 Arnhem
– Pets: Not allowed; certified assistance dogs welcome Arnhem

> Outdated-data flag: opening hours, closure days, and ticket prices can change—use the church’s official ticket/visit page as the final check right before you go. Arnhem

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## Why Eusebius is historically important in Arnhem

The Eusebius Church frames itself as telling almost twelve centuries of Arnhem’s history, including the city’s role as the capital of Gelderland. Arnhem
The site also documents that Arnhem had a church by the ninth century, referenced in a document from 893 (“Est in Arnheym ecclesia”). Arnhem

A major rebuilding push came later: the church’s own history page states that construction of a new late-Gothic church began in 1452, and that a reliquary (described as the skull and tongue of St Eusebius) was brought from Prüm Abbey in Germany to Arnhem; in 1453, St Eusebius became the church’s second patron saint and later gave his name to the church. Arnhem

### Karel van Gelre and Arnhem’s “power” story
The church explicitly links its story to Karel van Gelre (1467–1538), describing Arnhem as an important power and trade center in Europe under him and naming him as a key sponsor of the new church, including the Anna Chapel and a tomb in the church. Arnhem

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## WWII and the Battle of Arnhem: what happened to the church

If you care about Arnhem’s 20th-century history, Eusebius is not a side note—it’s presented as a literal landmark in the fighting.

According to the church’s own account:
– During the Battle of Arnhem, the Eusebius Church was at the center of the fighting. Arnhem
– On the night of 19–20 September 1944, it was heavily shot at and almost completely burned out. Arnhem
– In 1945, when the Rhine Bridge was blown up, half the tower broke loose and collapsed onto the already-damaged nave. Arnhem
– The site states the church was largely rebuilt during a major restoration period of 1947–1964. Arnhem

The “rebuild or preserve the ruins” debate is also documented: the page describes how Jan Kalf pushed for rebuilding to restore the city’s icon, while architect Herman Baanders argued the ruins should be preserved as a war memorial (comparing the idea to Berlin’s Gedächtniskirche). The church states Kalf and architect Berend Boeyinga held to the rebuild plan. Arnhem

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## The tower experience: panorama lift + glass balconies

The church’s tower visit is structured around two signature features: a glass panorama lift and two glass balconies.

### Panorama lift (how high it goes)
– The official site says the glass panorama lift takes visitors to 73 meters, described as the “highest point of Arnhem” for viewing. Arnhem
– It also notes the lift’s glass wall provides widening views while also giving a look inside the tower, including views of the carillon bells up close. Arnhem

### Glass balconies (where they are + what makes them unusual)
From the church’s detailed description:
– There are two balconies, located on the east and west sides of the tower. Arnhem
– They were constructed at a height of 60 meters. Arnhem
– Each balcony weighs around 2,500 kilograms and the bottom glass plate is stated to carry up to six people at a time. Arnhem
– The view is described as extending over Arnhem, the Rhine, the Betuwe, the Veluwezoom, the Achterhoek, and Nijmegen. Arnhem

### A detail most people miss: the “Disney” and cartoon figures on the tower
One of the strangest (and most photogenic) facts on the official page: during restoration in 1962, sculptor Henk Vreeling made sculptures of famous cartoon characters (including Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, plus Tom Poes and Ollie B. Bommel), and the page describes a joke carving involving the priest at the time being cast as one of the Seven Dwarfs. Arnhem

### A notable opening detail (as stated by the church)
The church states the panorama lift was officially opened during the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem in September 1994, by Prince Willem Alexander and HRH King Charles from the United Kingdom. Arnhem

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## Getting there: on foot, by bus, and where to park

The official visitor page is unusually specific about logistics:

### From Arnhem Central Station
– The church states it’s about a 15-minute walk (1,200 meters) from Arnhem Central Station. Arnhem

### Nearby bus stops (examples listed by the church)
– Eusebiuskerk stop: lines 12 and 43
– Stadstheater Arnhem stop: lines 2, 3, 5, 6, 14, 33, 62, 300 Arnhem

### Parking
– The church notes Arnhem city center has paid parking until 23:00, and points to two nearby garages: Broerenstraat parking garage and Rozet parking garage. Arnhem

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## What to expect on-site

The church’s visit description highlights a route that blends architecture, city history, and the tower experience:
– It explicitly advertises the panorama lift and glass balconies as a central feature. Arnhem
– It presents the visit as a “journey through time” from the modern era back to the early Middle Ages, including Arnhem’s status around 1500 and its post-WWII reconstruction identity. Arnhem

If you’re publishing this for readers, the honest positioning is: Eusebius is a history site with a viewpoint that’s intentionally engineered to be memorable—and the official materials lean into both angles. Arnhem

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Foundation Eusebius Arnhem

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Places to Stay Near Foundation Eusebius Arnhem"It is interesting if you like old dutch history and climbing towers"

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