Announced: Aug. 16, 1999.
Location: On the outskirts of The Hague; Osijilaan 2, 2722 CV Zoetermeer, The Netherlands; phone: (31) 79-3435-318; no clothing rental.
Exterior finish: polished granite.
Temple design: Classic modern.
Architect: Albert van Eerde.
Project manager: Hanno Luschin.
Contractor: H BG Construction, Holland.
Rooms: Celestial room, two ordinance rooms, two sealing rooms, baptistry.
Total floor area: 14,477 square feet.
Dimensions: 81-feet by 154-feet.
District: Five stakes and one district in The Netherlands, Belgium and part of France.
Groundbreaking, site dedication: Aug. 26, 1999, by Elder John K. Carmack of the Seventy.
Dedication: Sept. 8, 2002, by President Gordon B. Hinckley; 4 sessions.
Dedicatory Prayer
Done by President Gordon B. Hinckley
Almighty God, God of our fathers, we come before Thee in solemn prayer in the name of Thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world.
Our hearts are filled with gratitude. We thank Thee that Thou has moved in this dispensation to part the curtains and reveal Thyself and Thy Son to the boy Joseph to usher in a new and glorious gospel dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times. We thank Thee for the restoration of the priesthood with all of its keys and authority. We thank Thee for the testimony of the Book of Mormon as another witness of the divinity of Thy Beloved Son. We thank Thee for those who came to this land in early days to preach Thine everlasting gospel, and for the faith of those who through the generations have accepted it and lived it and sought to strengthen Thy work. The faithful of this land have given so much for their testimony of Thy divine work. Bless to our memory all who have gone before, and bless mightily those who now walk in faith before Thee.
Dear Father, we plead with Thee that this day of dedication may herald a new day in this great nation. Touch the hearts and the minds of the people of the land. Lead them from the pursuit of the things of the world to a new yearning for knowledge of Thee and for things divine and eternal. Open their hearts and cause them to wish for and search for that eternal truth which comes alone from Thee.
Bless those who have been called to teach the gospel to this nation that they may be led by Thy Holy Spirit to those who will accept their message. May there be a great flowering of Thy work in this nation and in all of the lands of Europe. These people are Thy sons and daughters. These are Thy children. We pray that Thou wilt stretch Thine encircling arm to embrace them with the truths of Thine eternal gospel. May strong leaders rise up in ever increasing numbers that Thy cause and kingdom may grow and fill the measure for which Thou hast restored it.
Dear Father, we lift our voices in praying for the youth of the Saints. Save them from the adversary. Open to them a vision of their divine birthright as sons and daughters of God. Bless them to treasure virtue, to turn from the sordid evils of the world and walk according to Thy pattern.
We thank Thee now for this beautiful and sacred house. We have waited so long for it. Our hearts look to Thee with profound gratitude.
And now, acting in the authority of the holy priesthood which Thou hast restored to the earth, and in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy divine Son and our Redeemer, we dedicate and consecrate unto Thee and unto Him this The Hague Netherlands Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate the ground on which it stands with the beautiful vegetation found thereon. We dedicate the structure from the footings to the figure of Moroni which crowns its steeple. We dedicate the walls and the windows from the foundation to the roof. We dedicate the interior, the baptistry, the endowment rooms, the beautiful celestial room, the sealing rooms and their sacred altars, and every other room and space and facility found herein. Altogether they constitute the House of the Lord presented by Thy thankful people with holiness unto Thee.
Wilt Thou accept of it. May it be pleasing to Thee.
May Thy Holy Spirit constantly dwell herein. May it touch the hearts and minds of all who enter these walls. We dedicate this sacred structure for the work Thou hast caused to be accomplished in behalf of both the living and the dead.
May all who participate come with clean hands and pure hearts. May their minds be opened to an understanding of the things of eternity. May a great and necessary work be accomplished here in behalf of the living, as well as those who have passed beyond the veil of death. May there be a binding together of the generations that the blessings of eternal exaltation may be opened to both the living and the dead.
Give us greater understanding, dear Father, of Thine eternal plan of happiness for Thy children. Increase our knowledge of Thy ways and Thy purposes in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
May this Thy sacred house be preserved by Thy power from storm and tempest and from defilement of any kind. May it ever be a place of holiness, Thy hallowed sanctuary. May Thy Saints treasure it and look toward it with love and appreciation and gratitude.
We pray for those who will conduct the work here, for the temple presidency, the matron and her assistants, and all of the ordinance workers. We pray for those who will exercise the divine sealing authority under which families are bound together for time and all eternity. We pray for all who will serve in any capacity. And we pray particularly for those who come as patrons that they may rejoice in their opportunity, that they may be subdued in their minds as they contemplate the eternal consequences of that which they do, and that they may carry with them throughout their lives a binding consciousness of the covenants they will make in this Thy house.
Holy Father, we pray for Thy work throughout the earth. Bless all who serve as messengers of eternal truth among the nations. Bless all who administer Thy work in whatever capacity. Bless and prosper the faithful Saints who pay their tithes and offerings that Thy work may go forward. Bless those who preside in Thy Church and kingdom and give them strength and capacity to carry on.
We pray for this nation that peace may reign among the people. We pray that there may ever be freedom in the land. We pray that its citizens may always have cause to be grateful for the land of their birth.
Now, beloved Father, we seek Thy forgiveness of past sins and pray for strength to overcome our weaknesses. Help us to live closer to Thee. Let knowledge of things divine flood our minds with light and understanding. May we look to Thee and live.
For these blessings we humbly pray with grateful hearts in the name of Thy Beloved Son, our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, amen.
Pylons mark progress of temple
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Construction of The Hague Netherlands Temple continues following a public ceremony held Dec. 16, 2000, to mark the start of driving pylons into the ground. Like much of the Netherlands, Zoetermeer, a city on the outskirts of The Hague where the temple is located, is below sea level and requires pylons to stabilize structures.
The mayor of Zoetermeer was among the estimated 350 spectators who watched as construction workers, dressed in white overcoats, prepared equipment for the driving of the pylons. When all was ready, the mayor activated the machinery. A large pylon driver began pounding the steel pylons into the ground.
After a few ceremonial ground-shaking jolts, Elder John K. Carmack of the Seventy and president of the Europe Central Area switched off the machine.
Construction of the temple has gained much public and media attention since ground was broken on Aug. 26, 2000. Dutch laws prohibit the construction of buildings that are closed to the public. The government, however, granted an exemption from the law.
During groundbreaking ceremonies, Elder Carmack spoke of the sanctity of the day by quoting the praises found in Psalms.
"It is a beautiful area," Elder Carmack said. "The translation of the city's name, 'Zoetermeer' is sweet lake city," he said, drawing a comparison with Salt Lake City.
The temple site is located on ground once owned by another denomination. After the chapel of the former denomination was demolished and excess water was drained, the ground was prepared for the pylons. Once the pylons were driven, the excavation site was filled with water to test the stability of the ground.
The temple is being constructed within the boundaries of the Rotterdam Netherlands Stake, which on March 12, 1961, was the first non-English-speaking stake to be organized.
A temple in the land of tulips and windmills
ZOETERMEER, Netherlands — Visitors approaching The Hague Netherlands Temple for the public open house get their first view of the temple as they drive along a shady tree-lined street. Their hearts skip a beat as they first see the stunning structure with its polished, Italian granite, said O. Jay Call, serving as a public affairs missionary with his wife, Jeanette.
After touring the temple they find the interior, with its cherrywood doors and striking Austrian Strauss crystal chandelier as stunning as the facade, he said.
"To build a temple in the Netherlands was certainly an inspired decision of our living prophet," said President Harold G. Hillam of the Seventy and Europe West Area president. "It will be a magnificent blessing to the saints and all noble people here. It has been impressive to see how sincere they are in their desire to know about the temple. It is very apparent how important families are to the people who have come to the open house. The explanation of families forever seems to resonate to these wonderful people."
Temple open house tours for the media dignitaries and special guests preceded public tours that began Aug. 17. President Hillam, accompanied by Elder Wayne S. Peterson of the Seventy and first counselor in the Europe West Area, and Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Seventy and first counselor in the Europe Central Area, welcomed the media and guests.
Members of the two area presidencies were present to acknowledge the participation of both areas in the building of the temple. Construction on the Hague temple began while the Netherlands was part of the Europe Central Area, but with realignment of the area in July, the Netherlands became part of the Europe West Area.
Thousands are expected to tour the temple until the open house ends Aug. 31. Comments of the first visitors reflected the hallowed, sacred feelings they experienced. "This truly is a very special place," remarked one visitor.
President Johannes D. Noot of the Rotterdam Netherlands Stake and spokesman for the Church in the Netherlands said, "We open the temple to the public because we want them to know us and better understand our relationship with Jesus Christ and our commitment to the well-being of people and families. We know with a surety that it will become a landmark for the City of Zoetermeer, just as has happened with other cities in Europe and the rest of the world where there are buildings like this one."
The temple will be dedicated in four sessions on Sept. 8. It will serve more than 13,000 members in The Hague Temple District, which is comprised of three stakes in the Netherlands and two stakes in Belgium and France.
Dutch architect Albert van Eerde, though not a member, noted the unique feelings of the temple. "From the start, over three years ago, I felt this project was more than just a job. I am very proud and honored that I was part of a process that led to this magnificent building, but also to a home for all of you. Every time I enter the celestial room I feel the serenity and peace we are all looking for at certain times. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity of establishing this building, which will probably be the best I will ever build."
èveline Panhuyzen, said, "For me and my family it is a privilege to have the temple near by. Now we don't have to drive five hours to Frankfurt, we can go to the temple by bike in 10 minutes. It is a great feeling to be able to go to the temple often to do work for our ancestors."
Visitors expressed similar feelings. A resident of Zoetermeer remarked, "The temple is a good thing for our community. It is a beautiful building and there is a wonderful spirit here."
An elderly man who lives across the street from the temple and is not a member, struggled through pain and inconvenience to attend the open house. He is deaf and paralyzed but is able to operate his specially equipped wheelchair by use of his chin.
Paul van't Schip, a member working at the temple that day, assisted him and was able to communicate through sign language. When the man was told that a gift of a Tabernacle Choir CD would be given to each special guest, he said, "I cannot listen to it yet, but when I am with my Heavenly Father I will be able to hear beautiful music. I am so happy I could be here in the house of the Lord."
During construction, on any day, a constant flow of onlookers could be seen around the temple. Some came in cars, while others rode bicycles, since cycling is a common way of life in the Netherlands.
With its level land, the Netherlands is a beautiful green country, unique in the spring for its ubiquitous floral and bulb gardens and fields. Windmills dot the land, with a few still providing wind power to drive flour mills, sawmills, oil-press mills and paint mills.
The temple is a gleaming jewel that adds to the beauty of the Netherlands and seems to be the culmination of the 161 years of missionary effort.
The Church's presence here goes back to 1841, when Elder Orson Hyde, on a missionary journey to Jerusalem, spent more than a week in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
First missionaries in the Netherlands were Elders Paul Schettler and A.W. Vander Woude who arrived Aug. 5, 1861. By May 10, 1862, they had baptized 14 people in Amsterdam and organized the first branch there. On March 12, 1962, the first Dutch Stake, the Amsterdam Stake, was organized. It was later renamed the Holland Stake. It was the first non-English speaking stake in the Church.
In Belgium, the Church had it's beginning when Mischa Markow, a Hungarian converted in Turkey, came to Belgium and converted members of the Esselman family in 1888. Three missionaries from the Swiss and German Missions were then sent and within two months baptized 80 people. In 1891 Belgium became part of the Netherlands Mission. The first stake in the country was the Brussels Belgium Stake, organized February 20, 1977.
For many years the Church was not allowed to own property in the Netherlands and it remains difficult to obtain permits to purchase land. Official recognition of the Church was received in August 1955, after nearly 20 years of petitioning. Legal recognition gives the Church the right to hold property.
