Universel Murad Hassil – Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands - Atlas Obscura
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Universel Murad Hassil

Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands

A seemingly out-of-place temple built on the spot where a mystic had a profound spiritual experience.  

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Universel Murad Hassil HGroeneveldt (Creative Commons)
Universel Murad Hassil HGroeneveldt (Creative Commons)
Universel Murad Hassil Vysotsky / CC BY-SA 3.0
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The Universel in Katwijk is a spiritual landmark situated in the dune-covered landscape near Katwijk. The building is connected to Sufism, a spiritual movement not connected to any one specific religious doctrine. This temple was built on the very spot where Sufi mystic Hazrat Inayat Khan had a profound spiritual experience in 1922. 

The building was designed by the Dutch architect S.J. van Embden in the late 1960s and opened in 1970. Van Embden was known for creating buildings for the universities of Twente, Eindhoven, and Delft. The Universel is the only religious building Van Embden ever designed. 

The building consists of a large square hall with a golden dome on top. The square hall resembles stability and power. The dome symbolizes the human heart, opening to the light. In the temple, visitors can find an altar honoring the six world religions.

The premises are also home to a chapel, a path of silence, and a teahouse.

Know Before You Go

Keep in mind, the Universel is a religious building actively used for worship. The building is open to the public on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and after the universal service on the first and third Sunday of the month (from 12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.).

temple dunes temples religion architecture
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