The Universel Murad Hassil is an international Universal Sufi place of worship known as a "Universel" located in Katwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands. 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.
History In 1969, a structure designed by the Dutch architect S. J. van Embden was built on the place where, in the summer of 1922, Inayat Khan reported having a 'spiritual experience' and proclaimed the place holy.
The land was bought by the municipality of Katwijk from the State of the Netherlands in 1947. 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. A building permit was granted by the municipality on 25 juli 1967.
Work on the building was announced in January 1968, and commenced in April 1969. The official opening was Saturday July 4, 1970.
The temple was built by construction company Van Rhijn Katwijk, which was in financial difficulties at the time. New employees were hired for the realisation of the project, which cost about ƒ500,000.
The building is a simple square, with a golden cupola dome rising rises above the rest of the structure. The construction used concrete blocks and glass bricks, with the cupola made of double-walled transparent plastic.
In 1984 the Royal Dutch Touring Club and Tourism Society deemed the temple an attractive "place of interest", and the building was included in the architecture guide of Rijnland region published by the Dutch Association of Architectural Firms. In 2009 a quartets card game was published with one card featuring the building. There is also an associated amphitheatre for 335 people located nearby in a dune valley.
In 2014 the building was nominated for monument status by the municipal heritage committee. It has been open to the public on European Heritage Days.
As of September 2023 the building is part of a project called 'The Largest Museum of the Netherlands'.
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.
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.
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.
Exhibition space The temple has been used as a public exhibition space.
Exhibitions Opening date Closing date Name 1977-04-02 1977-04-03 Artist collective "'t Pandje" Katwijk 1977-07-09 1977-08-14 Exhibition "Islamathematica" by Keith Albarn et al. 1984-11-03 Paintings and drawings by Yamuna Bos, Fien Coleman-Breeuwsma and Coen van den Ende
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.
Performances Date Description Artist 1971-06-16 Recital. Works by Heitor Villa-Lobos et al. José Leal (piano) 1971-06-30 Audio performance Western and eastern meditative music 1971-07-14 Audio performance Mozarts opera "Die Zauberflöte" 1971-08-01 Concert Lenora Lafayette (soprano) 1974-10-29 Kamermuziek Lize Schoo (soprano), Truus van Dongen (alt) et al. 1976-04-28 Concert Henry Blackmon (bariton), Koos Bons (piano), Gert van der Endt (flute) 1976-08-06 Puppetry Marionet and puppet theatre Triangel of Ans and Henk Boerwinkel 1976-08-13 Indian music Darshan Kumari (sitar) 1976-08-15 Concert Trio Klassiek: Froukje Wiebenga (flute), Willie de Wilde (piano) and Yke Viersen (cello) 1976-08-17 Jazz music Sandro Zonca (alt and tenor saxophone), Cyohn Reinhart (trumpet), Melody Reinhart (tanpura), Malik Lechelt (piano, percussion) 1976-08-28 Popular and classical music Thijs van Leer 1976-09-04 Concert Trio Thijs van Leer 1976-09-11 Concert Quartetto Esterházy (strings): Jaap Schröder (violin), Alda Stuurop (violin), Wiel Peeters (viola), Wouter Möller (cello) 1976-10-09 Concert Randy Weston 1976-10-22 Concert Daniël Otten and Johan Otten 1977-02-25 Concert Christiaan Bor and Marja Bon 1977-06-18 All night programme "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Leids Kamerkoor, Barokensemble, Jamal-Ud-Din-Bharatiya et al. 1977-09-24 Concert Horn trio: Vicente Zarzo (horn), Jaring Walta (violin), and Jan van der Meer (piano) 1977-11-18 Concert Trio Rien de Reede 1978-01-06 Recital Aafje Heynis 1978-06-24 Jazz concert John Tchicai (saxophone) 1978-07-02 African Polyrhythm Percussiongroup Tenebos 1978-07-07 Frank Martin honoured Irwin Gage (piano), Meinard Kraak (tenor), Wouter Möller (cello), Lode Devos (dance) and Theresa Martin (dance) 1978-10-26 Scottish ballads and folk songs Caroline van Hemert 1979-02-09 Concert Emmy Verhey (violin) and Carlos Moerdijk (piano) 1979-03-23 Festival Pajtás Gypsy Orchestra under the direction of Michaël Mantz (cimbalom) 1979-03-02 Concert Han de Vries and Rudolf Jansen 1979-10-26 Concert Mark Lubotsky, Danièle Dechenne 1980-04-10 Concert Belgisch Variatie Ensemble: Guy van der Borght (clarinet), Marcel Hanssens (clarinet), Carl Verbraecken (piano) and Marcel van der Borght (drums) 1980-11-14 Concert Gerard Hengeveld 1981-11-27 Concert. Works by Henri Marteau, Joseph Jongen et al. Members of the Residentie Orchestra 1982-03-19 Concert Yke Viersen (cello) and Jet Röling (piano) 1982-12-10 Flute-harp duo Abbie de Quant (flute) and Edward Witsenburg (harp) 1983-01-07 Pianoconcert Jenny Zaharieva 1983-04-16 Concert Mendelssohn Trio: Lex Korff de Gidts (violin), Elias Arizcuren (cello), Alwin Bär (piano) 1984-04-27 Concert The Netherlands Guitar Trio: Wim Spruijt, Dick Hoogeveen and Henk Westhiner 1995-11-11 Pianoconcert Jenny Zaharieva 1996-08-25 Musical and cultural programme Dutch Shakuhachi Society 'Kaito' 1997-01-10 Guitar concert Groningen Guitar Duo: Eric Vaarzon Morel et al. 1998-02-05 Concert op harp en fluit Godelieve Schrama (harp) and Marieke Schneemann (flute) 1998-03-14 Concert Nederlands Gitaarduo: Juun Voorhoeve en Erik Otte 1998-11-01 Flamenco concert Eric Vaarzon Morel, Ricardo Mendeville 1998-11-21 Klassiek concert Mitsuko Saruwatari and Kaoru Kakudo 1998-12-12 Candlelight concert Follia Duo 1999-01-16 Klassiek concert Anke Anderson (harp) and Mariette Gort (cello) 2002-01-26 Concert Duo Volante: Daan van der Vliet (guitar) and Hanneke Ramselaar (oboe) 2002-03-02 Concert Lycoris Trio: Nienke Oostenrijk (soprano), Pauline Oostenrijk (oboe), Manja Smits (harp) 2003-11-01 Concert Ensemble Contours: Stepan Pas (dirigent), Barbara Tetenberg (soprano soloist) et al. 2004-11-13 Concert Maannacht. Works by Hans Riphagen et al. Ensemble Contours: Stepan Pas (dirigent), Karin van Arkel (soprano soloist) et al. 2011-09-24 Concert Emmy Storms (violin solo), De Haagse Beek (string orchestra), Yiorgo Moutsiaras (conductor) 2011-10-15 Duorecital Paolo Giacometti (piano) and Rosanne Philippens 2011-11-19 Flamenco-gitaar André van der Zijden 2012-01-14 Classical concert MirAnDa Trio: Mirjam Rietberg (harp), Anna Azernikova (soprano) and Dasha Beltiukova (flute) 2012-03-17 Poetry and music combined Anna Enquist (poet) and Ivo Janssen (piano) 2012-11-03 Music theatre Caroline Erkelens 2013-01-19 Concert Claudio Constantini (piano) 2013-02-09 Flute-harp duo. Works by Ned McGowan et al. Fluitharp Duo: Vera Kool (harp) and Egbert Jan Louwerse (flute) 2013-03-16 Concert Pieter Wispelwey (cello) 2013-09-28 Concert Emmy Verhey (violin) and Paul Komen (piano) 2013-11-17 North Indian classical music Christophe Bonnafous (bansuri), Ted de Jong (tabla) et al. 2014-01-11 Concert Remy van Kesteren (harp) 2014-03-01 Music theatre Klaas Hofstra 2014-03-29 Chambermusic Trio Suleika: Maurice Lammerts van Bueren (piano), Emmy Storms (violin) and Pepijn Meeuws (cello) 2014-09-27 Chambermusic Trio Tangata: Jacqueline Edeling (bandoneon), Margreet Markering (piano), Suze Stiphout (contrabas) et al. 2014-12-17 Şeb-i Arus programme Islamitische Stichting Nederland, Mustafa Ünver, Abdulwahid van Bommel, Tevazu Sufi Music Ensemble et al. 2015-01-24 Chambermusic Vesko Eschkenazy (violin) and Marietta Petkova (piano) 2015-04-18 Indian dhrupad concert Marianne Svašek (voice, tanpura) and Nathanaël van Zuilen (pakhavaj) 2015-10-10 Italian film music Lumayna: Hans Elzinga (guitars), Marcella Pischedda (guitar and voice), Rob Musters (clarinet) 2015-11-21 Pianoconcert Arielle Vernède 2016-01-23 Concert Musical trio 2016-04-23 Indian music Martijn Baaijens (sarod) and Ganesh Ramnath (tabla) 2016-04-29 Sephardic songs Marya Beetstra 2016-09-24 Classical concert Tosca Opdam (violin) and Helena Basilova (piano) 2016-10-15 String quartet Dudok Quartet: Judith van Driel (violin), Marleen Wester (violin), Mark Mulder (viola) and David Faber (cello) 2016-11-19 Music theatre Regina Albrink and Klaas Hofstra 2017-01-14 Concert Larissa Groeneveld (cello) and Lars Wouters van den Oudenweijer (clarinet) 2017-02-11 Concert Anke Bottema (harp), Mariette Gort (cello), Joep van Beijnum (violin) and Duco Burgers (piano) 2017-03-11 Classical music Jeroen van Veen (piano) 2017-09-30 Classical concert Van Amsterdam Duo 2017-10-29 Indian classical music Lenneke van Staalen (Indian violin) and Heiko Dijker (tabla) of the Dutch Strings Guild 2017-12-01 PeaceConcert Elie Saz 2017-12-02 Concert Chimaera Trio: Annemiek de Bruin (clarinet), Irene Kok (cello) and Laurens de Man (piano) 2018-03-03 PeaceConcert Maya Fridman 2018-04-28 PeaceConcert Yourie Castricum 2018-05-19 PeaceConcert Avi Adir 2018-10-06 Classical concert Van Swieten Society: Bart van Oort (fortepiano), Heleen Hulst (violin), Sara DeCorso (violin), Bernadette Verhagen (viola) and Diederik van Dijk (cello) 2018-11-03 Classical concert Trio 42: Merel Vercammen (violin), Anneleen Schuitemaker (harp) and Juan Manuel Domínguez (saxophone) 2018-12-01 Concert Magma Duo: Cynthia Liem (piano) and Emmy Storms (violin) 2019-01-26 Music theatre Kees Scholten (voice), Margreet Markering (piano) and Emmy Storms (violin) 2019-02-16 Piano duet à quatre mains Marc van der Marel and Marquis Bieshaar 2019-02-23 PeaceConcert Renske Skills 2019-09-14 Chansons Oukje den Hollander (voice), Vera Marijt (piano) and Marijn Korff de Gidts (i.a. percussion) 2019-10-05 Concert The Hague String Trio: Pauline Oostenrijk (oboe), Justyna Briefjes (violin), Julia Dinerstein (viola) and Miriam Kirby (cello) 2019-11-16 Music theatre Mike Boddé (piano, voice), Merel Vercammen (violin, vibrandoneon-melodica) and Sterre Konijn (soprano, voice, duduk) 2020-01-25 Concert Tango Por Dos: Anna van Nieukerken (piano) and Jacqueline van der Zwan (flute)
Lectures Date Description Lecturer 2014-11-30 Inspiration day: Christian mystics and meditation Nico Tydeman 2015-03-29 Inspiration day: Thomas Merton Predikant dr. K. Bras 2015-10-11 Inspiration day Jan Bor
Other public activities Workshops Date Description Instructor 2015-10-11 Ink wash painting Beppe Mokuza
Interactions Local community In connection with vandalism in 1987 permission was obtained to build a guard house on the premises.
In 1988 a member of the local city council spoke out against the colour of the outer walls of the temple. In 1989 the originally sober concrete brick walls were covered with a layer of plaster in various pastel colours.
Religious groups In Katwijk there are predominantly Dutch Reformed Churches. In 1969 local Dutch Reformed conversation circles discussed the appearance of the Sufi place of worship. At the opening of the temple in 1970 the praeses and secretary of the synods of the Dutch Reformed Churches (NHK) and the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (GKN) were invited.
Environment