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“Our Lady” once again watches over guests at Tulip Inn Media Park Residence

At approximately 11am on Thursday 17 November, the Statue of Our Lady (“Lieve Vrouwebeeld”), made by the Dutch sculptress Esther Velzeboer, will be placed in the empty alcove of Tulip Inn Media Park Residence. The placement of the white marble statue in the former Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gesticht is the crowning glory of the renovated Residence. And with it, guests staying at Koninginneweg 42 will once again have a “Lieve Vrouwe” to watch over them.

The Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gesticht was built in the early 20^th century in the neo-Gothic style and served as a convent, a religious residence for nuns. It formed part of the parish complex around the Roman Catholic Church Onze Lieve Vrouwe Onbevlekt Bevangen, which also encompassed a rectory and a school, as is customary in Roman Catholicism.

From convent to hotel apartment

Since 1997, the parish has been renting out the convent to the owners of Hotel Hilvertsom, as it was then known. The property was converted into 16 hotel apartments for guests who have longer-term assignments in the ‘Media City’ of Hilversum. In 2007, Amrâth Hôtels, who also own Amrâth Hotel Lapershoek Arenapark and Grand Hotel & Theater Gooiland, purchased the property and changed the name to Tulip Inn Media Park.

Fully renovated

In the summer of 2011, Amrâth Hôtels commissioned Genemuiden-based Palet Schilderwerken BV to renovate the Residence inside and out. During the renovation, the empty alcove on the eastern side, which used to accommodate a statue of Our Lady, caught everybody’s attention. Amrâth Hôtels purchased Esther Velzeboer’s stylised Statue of Our Lady via Gallery Bell’Arte in Maastricht, to watch over the guests staying at the Residence.

Het Lieve Vrouwebeeld / The Statue of Our Lady

The marble statue, entitled “Vrouwfiguur“, measures 1.10m in height. Esther Velzeboer sculpted this modern stylised figurine out of pure Carrara marble. The hand on the hip symbolises the caring nature of Our Lady, as she watches over the guests. Esther Velzeboer studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. After graduating, she spent several years in Carrara, Italy, the Mecca for sculptors. To this day, she sources the finest marble for her statues from Carrara. Esther regularly exhibits at the Beeldengalerie of Maastricht Gallery Bell’Arte. Her creations can also be admired at various art exhibitions.