St. Martin's Church

On the façade of the Sint-Martinuskerk you can see an image of the colleague of Sint-Martinus, namely Sint-Niklaas and the légende of the three students or three children. This legend has its origins in an 11th-century writing by Abbot Godehard of Hildesheim and is only known in Western Europe. Three theology students found shelter in an inn. The innkeeper killed them and deposited the students' meat in a barrel of brine. Some time later, St. Nicholas visited the same inn, and dreamed at night of the crime committed by the innkeeper. Nicholas called the innkeeper and prayed to God, after which the students were brought back to life.

In France, there is a similar story, in which three small children get lost during their game and are seduced and caught by a butcher. St. Nicholas appears, prays to God, brings the children to life and gives them back to their parents. Saint Nicolas has been the protector of Lorraine since 1477 after an official decree of René II, Duke of Lorraine.

Pascal Brackman