The Universel Murad Hassil is an international
Universal Sufi place of worship known as a "Universel" located in
Katwijk aan Zee in the
Netherlands.[1][2][3][4][5] Its associated amphitheatre situated in the dunes has frequently been used as a public
exhibition space and is a cultural attraction for the local municipality.[6][7]
History
In 1969, a structure designed by the Dutch architect
S.J. of Embden was built on the place where, in the summer of 1922,
Inayat Khan reported having a 'spiritual experience' and proclaimed the place holy.[8][9]
The land was bought by the municipality of Katwijk from the State of the Netherlands in 1947.[10] The lot is distinct from the territory of the Dutch armed forces bought by the municipality in 1954. The Murad Hassil trust acquired a perpetual lease from the municipality in 1956 through the
Council of State.[11][12][13] A building permit was granted by the municipality on 25 juli 1967.[14]
Work on the building was announced in January 1968,[15] and commenced in April 1969.[16] The official opening was Saturday July 4, 1970.[17]
The temple was built by construction company Van Rhijn Katwijk,[18] which was in financial difficulties at the time.[19] New employees were hired for the realization of the project, which cost about
ƒ500,000.[20][21][22][23]
The building is a simple square, with a golden
cupola dome rising rises 10 metres (33 ft) above the rest of the structure.[24][25] The construction used
concrete blocks and
glass bricks, with the
cupola made of double-walled transparent plastic.[26]
In 2014 the building was nominated for monument status by the municipal heritage committee.[31] It has been open to the public on
European Heritage Days.[32]
As of September 2023 the building is part of a project called 'The largest museum of the Netherlands'.
[1]
Usage
Every year, the 'Sufi summer school' takes place in this temple, and many Universal Sufis from around the world visit the temple each summer.[33]
There were plans to build accommodation to stay overnight for participants; however, in 1987 the majority of the local council for spatial planning was against extension of the complex.[34]
Public events
The Universal Worship Service, brotherhood days and other meetings take place in the temple as well as several traditional music concerts. These are open to the general public.[35]
Exhibition space
The temple has been used as a public exhibition space.
Paintings and drawings by Yamuna Bos, Fien Coleman-Breeuwsma and
Coen van den Ende[40]
Stage
The policy of the
Public Benefit Organisation responsible for the temple states the temple can be made available to others for activities only if those activities are harmonious with the spiritual atmosphere of the temple.[41]
Belgisch Variatie Ensemble: Guy van der Borght (clarinet),
Marcel Hanssens (clarinet), Carl Verbraecken (piano) and Marcel van der Borght (drums)[73][74]
In connection with vandalism in 1987 permission was obtained to build a guard house on the premises.[147]
In 1988 a member of the local city council spoke out against the colour of the outer walls of the temple.[148]
In 1989 the originally sober concrete brick walls were covered with a layer of plaster in various pastel colours.[149]
For the disposal of waste a connection has been made to a conduit especially made for the purpose.[25]
According to a study by the province of
Zuid-Holland the location of the Sufi Temple does not overlap with the location of habitat types or habitats with a conservation objective.[153]
^Stilma, Jan Sietse (8 December 2016).
"4. Naqsbandi-Haqqani soefigroep (Amsterdam)"(pdf). Ontmoeting met twee soefigroepen in Amsterdam rond transnationalisme [Meeting with two Sufi groups in Amsterdam about transnationalism] (MA) (in Dutch). Amsterdam: Universiteit van Amsterdam. p. 33. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
^Ivo de Groot; Enneke Vlaanderen; Tim Smit (25 July 2012).
"Referentiesituatie"(pdf). Milieueffectrapport Kustwerk Katwijk (Report). p. 48. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
^Neefjes, Jan (September 2010). "2.4 Bewoning, landgebruik en landschapsontwikkeling vanaf 1800" [2.4 Habitation, land use and landscape development from 1800].
Cultuursporen in het duin [Traces of culture in the dunes] (PDF) (Report). Gemeenten Wassenaar, Den Haag, Katwijk, duinwaterbedrijf Dunea, Staatsbosbeheer. p. 17. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^Jironet, Karin (2002). The Image of Spiritual Liberty in the Sufi Movement Following Hazrat Inayat Khan (Study). New Religious Identities in the Western World. Vol. 4. Leuven, Belgium: Uitgeverij Peeters. p. 59.
ISBN90-429-1205-7.
^Leo Dubbelaar (1993). "Bijlage 1. Lijst van aankopen, verkopen en ruilingen 1946-1959" [Appendix 1. List of purchases, sales and exchanges 1946-1959].
Inventaris van Katwijk [Inventory of Katwijk] (PDF) (Report). Katwijk: Gemeente Katwijk. p. 124. Retrieved 22 July 2021. Inv. nr. 65
^"Kampeerterrein in Katwijk inzet van een geschil" [Camping site in Katwijk causes dispute]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 9 March 1961. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2021. ...het door deze stichting in erfpacht ontvangen duinterrein... [...the dune site acquired by this trust...]
^"Een kerk voor allen" [A church for all]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 17 July 1982. p. 19. Retrieved 22 July 2021. ...om dat terrein in erfpacht te krijgen van de gemeente Katwijk. [...to acquire a perpetual lease on that site from the municipality of Katwijk.]
^"Plan Soefi-tempel Katwijk gewijzigd" [Plan Sufi temple Katwijk changed]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 25 April 1968. p. 5. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"In Katwijk bouw van een Soefi-tempel" [In Katwijk construction of a Sufi temple]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 25 January 1968. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"Soefi-tempel in Katwijks duinen in aanbouw" [Sufi temple in Katwijk dunes under construction]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 23 April 1969. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"Soefi-tempel in Katwijk zaterdag open" [Opening Sufi temple in Katwijk Saturday]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 30 June 1970. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"Foto LD/J. v. Duijn" [Photo LD/J. v. Duijn]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 2 May 1969. p. 29. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"Katwijks bouwbedrijf overgenomen" [Katwijk construction company taken over]. Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiderdorp. 9 April 1971. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Uitvoerder" [Contractor]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 4 April 1969. p. 16. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Assistent-werkbegeleider" [Assistent work supervisor]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 21 February 1970. p. 8. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Oosters gebouw aan Sportlaan in Katwijk" [Eastern building at the Sportlaan in Katwijk]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 23 September 1969. p. 9. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Nieuwe bollenroute ANWB" [New bulbsroute ANWB]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 28 January 1984. p. 2. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^Post, Kees; de Vreeze, Noud, eds. (1989). Architectuurgids Rijnland 1900-1989 (in Dutch). Zoeterwoude: Bond van Nederlandse Architecten kring Rijnland. p. 25.
^van der Meij, Bert; de Vink, Leendert (2009). Kattuks kwartet: met Katwijkse onderwerpen in Katwijks dialect [Kattuks quartets: with Katwijk themes in Katwijk dialect] (in Dutch). Katwijk.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)
^"Soefi bouwt in Katwijk" [Sufi builds in Katwijk]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 7 May 1969. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^Gemeente Katwijk (2014).
"Bijlage 1: Aanwijzingen tot monument"(pdf). Jaarverslag 2014 - Erfgoedcommissie - Gemeente Katwijk (Report). Gemeente Katwijk. p. 11. Retrieved 4 July 2020. 20 mei 2014 - Zuidduinseweg 7, Katwijk aan zee - Aanwijzing tot gemeentelijk monument - Soefitempel
^"Open Monumentendag" [Open Heritage Day] (in Dutch). Gemeente Katwijk. Retrieved 4 July 2020. Op 14 september 2019 zijn veel monumenten in Nederland weer gratis toegankelijk tijdens de Open Monumentendag.
^"Fractievoorzitter RPF Katwijk wil geen uitbreiding gebouw" [Party chairman RPF Katwijk doesn't want extension of Sufi temple]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 10 October 1987. p. 13. Retrieved 25 July 2021. Een meerderheid van de raadscommissie voor ruimtelijke ordening [...] tegen de bouw van de slaapaccommodatie.
^"Soefitempel" [Sufi temple]. Trouw (in Dutch). 14 January 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
^"Festijn bij heropening Soefi-tempel" [Festival at reopening Sufi temple]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 31 March 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"Beleidsplan" [Mission Statement] (PDF) (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 February 2020.
^"José Léal treedt op in Katwijk" [José Léal performs in Katwijk]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 11 June 1971. p. 4. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
^"uit de KUNST" [From the world of art]. De Tijd (in Dutch). Amsterdam. 16 June 1971. p. 7. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
^"Uit de Duinstreek" [From the Duneregion]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 30 June 1971. p. 4. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Uit de Duinstreek" [From the Duneregion]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 14 July 1971. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
^"Negerzangeres in Soefi-tempel" [Black woman singer in Sufi temple]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 28 July 1971. p. 3. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"K. en O.-concert in de Soefi-tempel" [K&O Katwijk concert in Sufi temple]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 17 October 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Heldere vioolsonates in Soefi-tempel" [Lucid violin sonatas in Sufi temple]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 22 October 1976. p. 3. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^"Christiaan Bor wil van contract af" [Christiaan Bor wants to evade contract]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 22 February 1977. p. 4. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"Kunstagenda" [Art calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 25 February 1977. p. 14. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"Emmy Verhey in Katwijk". Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 7 February 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Soefibeweging opent lente-/ zomerseizoen" [Sufi Movement opens spring-/ summer season]. Nieuwe Leidsche Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 15 March 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
^"Concert Katwijkse Soefitempel" [Concert Katwijk Sufi temple]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 2 March 1979. p. 7. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Belgisch ensemble in Katwijk" [Belgian ensemble in Katwijk]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 4 April 1980. p. 2. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Variatie ensemble in Soefi-tempel" [Variatie ensemble in Sufi temple]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 8 April 1980. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^"Kortweg" [In short]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 11 November 1980. p. 7. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Regio(jour)naal" [Regional calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 24 November 1981. p. 7. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
^"Kunstagenda" [Art calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 19 March 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Regio(jour)naal" [Regional calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 8 December 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Regio(jour)naal" [Regional calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 4 January 1983. p. 4. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Regio(jour)naal" [Regional calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 15 April 1983. p. 7. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^"Concert agenda" [Concert calendar]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 20 April 1984. p. 23. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Pianoconcert" [Pianoconcert]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 11 November 1995. p. 17. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Programmaoverzicht theater en muziek" [Overview theatre and music programmes]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 22 August 1996. p. 8. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Muziek" [Music]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 9 January 1997. p. 22. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Weekagenda" [Week calendar]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 5 February 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^"Weekagenda" [Week calendar]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 12 March 1998. p. 18. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
^"Muziek" [Music]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 30 October 1998. p. 18. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Klassiek in Soefitempel" [Classical in Sufi temple]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 21 November 1998. p. 29. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Follia Duo" [Follia Duo]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 11 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Klassiek in Soefitempel" [Classical in Sufi temple]. Leidsch Dagblad (in Dutch). Leiden. 15 January 1999. p. 18. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
^"Duorecital piano en viool in Soefitempel" [Duorecital piano and violin in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). Katwijk. 13 October 2011. p. 20. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"Flamenco-gitaar in de Soefitempel" [Flamenco guitar in the Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). Katwijk. 10 November 2011. p. 20. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
^"Klassiek concert met Miranda Trio" [Classical concert with Miranda Trio]. Oegstgeester Courant (in Dutch). No. 2. Oegstgeest. 11 January 2012. p. 17. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
^"Klassieke muziek op een bijzondere plek" [Classical music at a special location]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 9. Katwijk. 28 February 2012. p. 4. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Clara Schumann, haar liefde en haar muziek" [Clara Schumann, her love and her music]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 44. Katwijk. 1 November 2012. p. 12. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"Pianorecital in Soefitempel" [Piano recital in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 2. Katwijk. 17 January 2013. p. 10. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Concert FluitHarp-duo in Soefitempel" [Concert Fluitharp Duo in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 3. Katwijk. 17 January 2013. p. 31. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
^"Noord Indiase Klassieke Muziek" [North Indian Classical Music]. De Rijnsburger (in Dutch). No. 46. Rijnsburg. 14 November 2013. p. 23. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"Remy van Kesteren speelt in de Soefitempel" [Remy van Kesteren performs in the Sufi temple]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 2. Katwijk. 7 January 2014. p. 17. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Evenementenkalender" [Events calendar]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 7. Katwijk. 11 February 2014. p. 19. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^
ab"Cultureel aanbod K&O" [Cultural suggestions K&O]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 35. Katwijk. 26 August 2014. p. 15. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Argentijnse tango in Soefitempel" [Argentinian tango in Sufi temple]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 39. Katwijk. 23 September 2014. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Canto Ostinato door pianiste Arielle Vernède" [Canto Ostinato by pianist Arielle Vernède]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 47. Katwijk. 19 November 2015. p. 25. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Agenda Bollenstreek" [Calendar Bulbsregion]. De Noordwijker (in Dutch). No. 2. Noordwijk. 12 January 2016. p. 13. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"Indiase muziek in Soefitempel" [Indian music in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 15. Katwijk. 14 April 2016. p. 15. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"Sefardische liederen in Soefitempel" [Sephardic songs in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 15. Katwijk. 14 April 2016. p. 29. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Klassiek in Soefitempel" [Classical in Sufi temple]. Katwijks Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Katwijk: Buijze Pers. 14 September 2016. p. 17. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Bach en Brahms in Soefitempel" [Bach and Brahms in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 37. Katwijk. 14 April 2016. p. 24. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Dudok Kwartet in Soefitempel" [Dudok Quartet in Sufi temple]. Weekendkrant (in Dutch). Duin- en Bollenstreek: Buijze Pers. 14 October 2016. p. 9. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Beethoven komt tot leven in Soefitempel" [Beethoven comes to life in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 46. Katwijk. 17 November 2016. p. 31. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Klassiek in Soefitempel" [Classical in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 7. Katwijk. 16 February 2017. p. 37. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Klassiek concert door Van Amsterdam Duo" [Classical concert by Van Amsterdam Duo]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 37. Katwijk. 14 September 2017. p. 27. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
^"Meditatief concert in Soefitempel" [Meditaive concert in Sufi temple]. De Rijnsburger (in Dutch). No. 41. Rijnsburg. 12 October 2017. p. 19. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
^"Elie Saz in de Soefitempel" [Elie Saz in the Sufi temple]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 47. Katwijk. 21 November 2017. p. 7. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"Chimaera Trio geeft concert in Soefitempel" [Chimaera Trio gives concert in Sufi temple]. Katwijks Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Katwijk: Buijze Pers. 15 November 2017. p. 12. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Evenementenkalender" [Events calendar]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 7. Katwijk. 13 February 2018. p. 25. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"Evenementenkalender" [Events calendar]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 17. Katwijk. 24 April 2018. p. 25. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"Evenementenkalender" [Events calendar]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 20. Katwijk. 15 May 2018. p. 33. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"K&O klassiek concert" [K&O classical concert]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 39. Katwijk. 27 September 2018. p. 31. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"K&O klassiek concert door Trio 42" [K&O classical concert by Trio 42]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 42. Katwijk. 18 October 2018. p. 34. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"K&O klassiek met het Magma Duo" [K&O classical with the Magma Duo]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 48. Katwijk. 27 November 2018. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Muziektheater Tangoliederen" [Music theatre Tango songs]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 3. Katwijk. 17 January 2019. p. 19. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Virtuoos pianospel in Soefitempel" [Skilful piano playing in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 8. Katwijk. 21 February 2019. p. 29. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Peaceconcert in Soefitempel" [Peace concert in Sufi temple]. Katwijk Speciaal (in Dutch). No. 8. Katwijk. 19 February 2019. p. 15. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
^"The Hague String Trio" [The Hague String Trio]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 40. Katwijk. 3 October 2019. p. 34. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
^"Voorstelling Nachtlicht in Soefitempel" [Performance Nightlight in Sufi temple]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 45. Katwijk. 7 November 2019. p. 39. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Evenementenkalender" [Events calendar]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 4. Katwijk. 23 January 2020. p. 28. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
^"Inspiratiedag..." [Inspiration day...]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 48. Katwijk. 25 November 2014. p. 29. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^Theo Brand; Jan Spijk, eds. (March 2015).
"Agenda" [Calendar] (PDF). De Linker Wang (in Dutch). 2015 (1). Utrecht: 23. Retrieved 30 July 2021.{{
cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (
link)
^"Filosofie en de weg naar binnen" [Philosophy and the way inward]. De Katwijksche Post (in Dutch). No. 39. Katwijk. 24 September 2015. p. 17. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^"Bezwaren..." [Objections...]. Leidse Courant (in Dutch). Leiden. 25 November 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
^Post, Kees; de Vreeze, Noud, eds. (1989). Architectuurgids Rijnland 1900-1989 (in Dutch). Zoeterwoude: Bond van Nederlandse Architecten kring Rijnland. p. 25.
^M.J. Breedveld; W. Stempher; M.E. de Boer (26 September 2017). "7. Beschrijving en toetsing huidig gebruik" [7. Description and assessment of current use].
Beheerplan bijzondere natuurwaarden Meijendel & Berkheide [Management plan special natural values Meijendel & Berkheide] (PDF) (Report). Provincie Zuid-Holland. p. 196. Retrieved 22 July 2021. ...de ligging van de Soefitempel overlapt niet met de ligging van habitattypen of leefgebieden met een ISHD.