To promote the International Eucharistic Congress, which was to take place in Amsterdam in 1924, Art Nouveau artist Jan Toorop was commissioned to design a poster. In his composition the Virgin Mary and the symbols of the Eucharist—a chalice with a host above it—take center stage.

Amsterdam in 1924 was not an obvious location for a major international Catholic event. Following the Alteratie, the public expression of the Catholic faith had even been prohibited there. It was not until 1795 that Catholicism was granted legal equality with Protestantism in the Netherlands, under the influence of the French Revolution. Nevertheless, the Netherlands maintained a ban on processions for a long time, and large Catholic manifestations remained anything but welcome in the streets of Amsterdam.

Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the Catholic community in the Netherlands worked hard toward its emancipation. Organizing the International Eucharistic Congress in Amsterdam marked an important step in that process. However, the distinctly Catholic character of the congress also caused tension. The Protestant community was concerned about the location and the potentially disruptive exuberance of the Catholic ceremonies. In order to maintain peace, it was decided to hold the major celebrations—including an impressive procession—in The Stadium, well outside the city center and out of sight of those who might take offense. Even so, there was suspicion toward the many Catholic dignitaries visiting the city during the congress. The event was documented in an extensive photo album and in a film report, as testimonies to this exceptional public display of the Catholic faith in the city.

Although the Eucharistic Congress in Amsterdam unfolded in a relatively modest and subdued manner, for Dutch Catholics it was seen as an important milestone in their emancipation and as a step toward liberation from Protestant tutelage.