Little white church of the poor

The Church of Our Lady of the Virgin of the Poor is a former parish church.

In 1940 a people's retreat was held in the mine workers' colony De Steenberg, which sparked the desire to create a chapel of its own. Churches were initially held in a nursery schoolroom, which was much too small and many people had to stand outside. The counselors feared apostasy, partly in view of the considerable support for socialism and communism among the miners. This was not only an issue among the clergy but also among the management of Staatsmijn Emma. In addition, the kindergarten also had to be expanded.

In 1947 De Steenberg, now called Maria-Gewanden, was elevated to a parish. Building land for the mine was purchased in 1949, and one of the mine's architects made the design for the church. The church was ready at the end of 1949.

A painting of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa was painted in the church in 1950, which also made the church a place of pilgrimage for Polish Catholics in the area. In 1957 another round steel belfry was added.

However, the church was withdrawn from worship in 2010. In 2013, the building was placed on the municipal monument list. In 2017, the former church was sold and turned into a religious sculpture museum.

It is a small, white-painted hall church under a saddle roof with buttresses and pointed arch windows. The facade bears a small bell gable. The front building has a pent roof and an entrance portal with a gable that resembles the front facade. The interior is also painted white, except for the heavy open wooden ceiling.

H. Filott designed three stained-glass windows, the middle one shows Mary appearing to Mariette Beco as the Virgin of the Poor, and working-class families praying to Mary are depicted on the left and right.