Hendricus Cornelis Marie van Beers was born in Rotterdam on the 17th of July 1890 as the son of architect F.J.C.J. van Beers. Little is known about his life and his education. Starting in 1910 he probably studied in Delft. He was active as an architect since ca. 1916 and had offices at various locations in Rotterdam (ZH) until he moved to Huis Ter Heide (U) in ca. 1930.
His first assignments were housing projects for catholic workers in the Rotterdam area. Since 1923 he also designed several catholic schools. His first church assignments concerned changes to older churches. In 1927 he assisted J.P.L. Hendriks at the design of the St. Anna church in Amstelveen. The St. Joseph in Arnhem of 1928 was probably Van Beers' first completed church.
Van Beers designed several catholic churches in Traditionalist style, with some influence of Expressionism in his first works. Many of his churches have complex brick vaults. Unlike most of his colleagues Van Beers stayed true to Traditionalism for his church designs until the end of his career.
He died in a car accident in Zeist on January the 2nd, 1964.
The following is a list of Van Beers' religious work only. It is possibly incomplete.
Not built. Possibly this design competed with J. Stuyt's design for the St. Egbertus.
Radical rebuilding of a neo-Classical nave; new windows and replacement of plastered ceilings by brick vaults.
Addition of wide and high side-aisles to a neo-Gothic church, as well as cladding of the tower.
Neo-Gothic tower and chapels in Traditionalist style for a Neo-Gothic church. Damaged in 1944-1945 but repaired when the church was replaced by the current church by Joh.H. Sluijmer. Although large parts of the tower were retained, it was transformed in Traditionalist style.
Church in combination of Expressionist and Traditionalist styles, with slim, tall tower at the side of the front. Designed in conjunction with J.P.L. Hendriks who was probably the main architect.
New front with tower for a neo-Gothic church. Demolished in 1974.
Three-aisled basilica in Expressionist style. Tower not built. Now apartments.
New eastern part for older church by A. Tepe, with double transept and a straight choir.
Chapel in Traditionalist style for a catholic cemetery.
Aisleless church with straight choir and a tower next to the portal.
Small church in Traditionalist style.
Church in Traditionalist style, with towers at the front and above the choir.
Chapel for a house for the poor. The rest of the complex was designed by Van Beers as well.
Church in Traditionalist style, with towers at the front and above the choir. Designed in conjunction with A. Witteveen.
Three-aisled church in Traditionalist style. Straight choir, short tower at the front.
Pseudo-basilica in Traditionalist style. Tower in front of the church is lower than the nave.
Pseudo-basilica in Traditionalist style, largely similar to the church in Soesterberg.
Pseudo-basilica in Traditionalist style. Van Beers' last church.