Diocese of

Groningen–Leeuwarden

Netherlands

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Groningen–Leeuwarden (Nederlands) / Groninga–Leeuwarden (Italiano) / Groningen(sis) et Leovardien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Utrecht

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 25

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1559.05.12: Established as Diocese of Groningen / Groningen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Münster and Diocese of Utrecht and became suffragan of Utrecht)
1580.02.15: Without ecclesiastical province
1603.03.07: Suppressed
1955.07.16: Restored as Diocese of Groningen / Groningen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Utrecht and Diocese of Haarlem and became suffragan of Utrecht)
2005.11.26: Renamed as Diocese of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Nederlands) / Groninga–Leeuwarden (Italiano) / Groningen(sis) et Leovardien(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2025.07.07 – ...):

Bishop Ronald Gerhardus Wilhelmus Cornelissen (60)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ronald Gerhardus Wilhelmus Cornelissen (60)
(2025.07.07 – ...)

Bishop of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Netherlands)

Peregrinantes in spem

Born:	1964.12.12 (Gaanderen, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1996.10.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2025.10.11

Priest of Utrecht (Netherlands) (1996.10.19 – 2025.07.07)

Bishop of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Netherlands) (2025.07.07 – ...)

Bishop Cornelis Franciscus Maria van den Hout (61)
(2017.04.01 – 2024.06.21)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands)

Born:	1964.11.11 (Tilburg, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1993.06.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.06.03

Priest of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) (1993.06.05 – 2017.04.01)

Bishop of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Netherlands) (2017.04.01 – 2024.06.21)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (2024.06.21 – ...)

Bishop Gerard Johannes Nicolaas de Korte (70)
(2008.06.18 – 2016.03.05)

Bishop of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands)

Confidens in Christo

Born:	1955.06.13 (Vianen, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1987.09.05
Consecrated Bishop:	2001.06.02

Priest of Utrecht (Netherlands) (1987.09.05 – 2001.04.11)

Titular Bishop of Cesarea in Mauretania (2001.04.11 – 2008.06.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Utrecht (Netherlands) (2001.04.11 – 2008.06.18)

Bishop of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Netherlands) (2008.06.18 – 2016.03.05)

Bishop of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) (2016.03.05 – ...)

Bishop Willem Jacobus Eijk (72) (later Cardinal)
(2005.11.26 – 2007.12.11)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Callisto
Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht (Netherlands)

Noli recusare laborem

Born:	1953.06.22 (Duivendrecht, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1985.06.01
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.11.06
Created Cardinal:	2012.02.18

Priest of Roermond (Netherlands) (1985.06.01 – 1999.07.17)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1999.07.17 – 2005.11.26)

Bishop of Groningen–Leeuwarden (Netherlands) (2005.11.26 – 2007.12.11)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht (Netherlands) (2007.12.11 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of the Netherlands (2011.06 – 2016.06.14)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Callisto (2012.02.18 [2012.05.17] – ...)

Bishops of Groningen (Roman Rite)

Bishop Willem Jacobus Eijk (72) (later Cardinal)
(1999.07.17 – 2005.11.26)

(see above)

Bishop Johann Bernard Wilhelm Maria Möller
(1969.05.21 – 1999.04.26)

Born:	1923.10.31 (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1949.07.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1969.06.28
Died:	1999.04.26 († 75)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1969.05.21 – 1999.04.26)

Bishop Pieter Antoon Nierman
(1956.03.10 – 1969.05.21)

Deus refugium et virtus

Born:	1901.01.29 (Hilversum, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1924.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1956.05.11
Died:	1976.09.15 († 75)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1956.03.10 – 1969.05.21)

Titular Bishop of Sala Consilina (1969.05.21 – 1970.11.29)

Fr. Arnoldus Nijlen, O.P.
(1593 – 1594 not possessed)

Died:

1603

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1577 – 1580 not possessed)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1593 – 1594 not possessed)

Fr. Johannes van Bruheze (Jan van Bruhezen)
(1589 – 1592)

Born:	1527.05.03
Died:	1600.09.10 († 73)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1576 – 1577 not possessed)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1589 – 1592)

Vicar Apostolic of Batavia (Netherlands) (1592 – 1600.09.10 not possessed)

Fr. Arnoldus Nijlen, O.P.
(1577 – 1580 not possessed)

Died:

1603

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1577 – 1580 not possessed)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1593 – 1594 not possessed)

Fr. Johannes van Bruheze (Jan van Bruhezen)
(1576 – 1577 not possessed)

Born:	1527.05.03
Died:	1600.09.10 († 73)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1576 – 1577 not possessed)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1589 – 1592)

Vicar Apostolic of Batavia (Netherlands) (1592 – 1600.09.10 not possessed)

Bishop Johannes Knijff, O.F.M. Obs.
(1561.08.08 – 1578.10.01)

Born:	(Bruxelles, Belgium)
Consecrated Bishop:	1563.12.05
Died:	1578.10.01 (Groningen, Netherlands)

Bishop of Groningen (Netherlands) (1561.08.08 – 1578.10.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sint-Jozefkathedraal, Groningen, Groningen
Minor Basilica: Sint-Franciscusbasiliek, Bolsward, Friesland
Former Cathedral (now Protestant church): Sint-Maartenskerk, Groningen, Groningen
Former Cathedral (now ruined): Sint-Vituskerk, Leeuwarden, Friesland
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (78)

Haarlem–Amsterdam (↙), Osnabrück (→), Utrecht (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 8,880 km²

Population: 96,000 Catholics (5.4% of 1,770,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 21 parishes

Personnel: 26 priests (25 diocesan, 1 religious), 6 deacons, 11 religious (9 brothers, 2 sisters), 2 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2025.11.23

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