School in The Hague, Netherlands
Aloysius College, The Hague, was a secondary school in The Hague, in the Netherlands. The school was founded by the Jesuits in 1917 and expanded to include secondary school, grammar school, high school, and "gifted education." The last Jesuits left the school in the 1970s, and in 2016 the school was closed due to financial difficulties.[1][non-primary source needed]
History
The school was named after the Jesuit St. Aloysius Gonzaga. It was opened in 1917 under the name R.K. H.B.S. behind the rectory of Saint Teresa of Avila Church and at that time only accommodated Catholic boys. In 1925 the building at Oostduinlaan was opened. In 1928, a boarding school in the Raamweg received the boarders of Huize Katwijk in Katwijk aan den Rijn. The original plan was to replace the school at Katwijk with a mega complex between Oostduinlaan and Raamweg, with construction beginning in 1914, but only the basement was completed when funds ran out. World War I and the Russian Revolution ended this effort, and in 1925 a more modest building was constructed. In the 1950s the foundations of the 1914 building which were adjacent to the new building were removed with dynamite. After 1971 girls were admitted, and the Jesuits were gradually replaced by laypersons.[2]
Building
The 1925 building was designed by P.G. Buskens. It included two large rooms, an auditorium and chapel, stained-glass windows by Lou Asperslagh, and stately hall. The hallways and classrooms underwent many changes over time. The building was formidable enough to be declared a municipal monument in 2010. The Jesuit residence was converted into luxury apartments and the school is now part of the European School of the Hague.
Organization
Aloysius College was under the supervision of the Aloysius Foundation, with daily management handled by the rector.
Cultural fests
ACT was a talent show in which students performed before a packed house. Each year there were three ACT shows, with exhibitions of talent in dance, music, and theater. A winner was chosen from each show and they appeared in a fourth show, the finals, which includes additional performances. The winner of that ACT Final became the year's winner.
Interscholastic intercultural event
Aloysius College was among five schools participating in an interschool cultural event in The Hague. Along with the Maerlant Lyceum, the Liberal-Christian Lyceum, the Sorghvliet, and Gymnasium Haganum, ACT winners at Aloysius participated in performances at one of these schools with one school declared the winner. The winning school became the locus of the next year's cultural event.
Closure
As of 23 November 2015 Aloysius College was closed for non-examination classes. The students in the graduating classes were able to finish the school year.[3]
