Saint Nicholas

Parish church of Sint-Niklaas between Appelmarkt (north side), Sint-Niklaasplein (south side) and Kaatsspelplaats (west side). Dominating western tower; adjoining houses at the corners with side aisles (Sint-Niklaasplein, without number and Appelmarkt, number 1). Partially built-in north aisle façade due to rear walls of houses on the south side of Ooststraat. Formerly, a surrounding cemetery enclosed by the Cortegracht or Kerkegracht to the east and north. Oldest mention from 1120. Until the French Revolution served by monks of the Sint-Niklaas Abbey. Current layout: western bell tower from the 13th century with upper section from the early 14th century (smaller brick size), three-aisled nave of five bays, immediately built after the demolition in 1494 of the original transept (late 15th century), central choir extended eastward around 1775, and two side choirs of two straight bays respectively with five-sided and flat east closure, south sacristy and north storage place designed by architect G. Hoste (Tielt) from 1888 (?). In 1841, new spire again demolished around 1866. Improvement works in 1960, restoration of war damage, vaults and roofs in 1960-1962 1963-1965, under the direction of architect L. Allaert (Kortrijk). Restoration works on the tower in 1891-1892 under architect J. Vinck (Veurne); in 1975 and thereafter under architect G. Verschave (Brugge). Brick construction; use of iron sandstone for the substructure of the south aisle façade; limestone for layers alternated with brick in the north aisle façade and south transept façade, for the largest part of the south aisle façade and for the upper part of the western portal; Tournai stone for the substructure of the latter. Roofing with ridge roofs (slates). Openworked eight-sided lantern tower at the crossing. Heavy western tower: façade tower according to the typical coastal scheme cf. Damme, Lissewege. Rectangular ground plan. Four sections marked by string courses. Corner buttresses with cuts; on the southwest corner replaced by a square stair tower with eight-sided upper structure and brick spire crowned with four lobes. Weathered and lying deeper due to ground accumulation, the western portal (mid-13th century) under brick covering (ridge roof). Rectangular entrance under a heavy upper threshold supported by a central pillar and two side pilasters, all of Tournai stone. Surrounded pointed-arch niche with elaborately worked archivolts of limestone on three-quarter columns with knob capitals of Tournai stone; arch sections depicting the twenty-four Elders of the Apocalypse, under projecting water table with foliage; remnants of baldachin in the arch field. Above, weathered remnants of three figures: "Christ at the Last Judgment" between kneeling Our Lady and St. John. Remaining tower sections respectively with blind oculi between which round-arched niches on the west side (second section); oculi, pointed-arch niches, and sound holes (third and fourth sections). Parapet with pointed-arch niches and polygonal corner towers. Side aisles. Western gable façades with adjoining houses (two building levels). North and south façades rhythmically marked by buttresses with cuts and illuminated by pointed-arch windows (four lights) with fish bladder motif in quarter-round framing on the corbel table. North and south portals in the westernmost bay; two paired round-arched doors inscribed in pointed-arch framing with elaborately worked archivolts, drip mold, and pointed-arch niche with Sacred Heart statue in the arch field. To the east of the south portal, a small sundial above the first cut of the buttress. Transept gable ends with gable, shoulder pieces, and analogous pointed-arch window. Five-sided apse supported by buttresses with three cuts, illuminated by similar pointed-arch windows (two lights); two flanking gable ends of side choirs with gables, shoulder pieces, large pointed-arch niche, and perpendicular adjoining south sacristy and north storage room. Originally vaulted tower substructure cf. preserved consoles and vault beginnings; limestone wall sections in the west and mainly north wall with preserved pointed-arch niches, referring to the oldest tower substructure originally of limestone and later embedded in a brick whole. Hall church with white plastered (1969-1970) interior; fully adapted in 1780. Pointed-arch brick transverse arches on natural stone columns with eight-sided base and capital; crossing pillars with half-round columns of brick; free-standing choir pillars with knob capitals. Wooden barrel vaults between belt arches and with outlining cornice; five-part wooden ribbed vault above the main choir. In the south wall of the south side choir, round-arched niche in brick rectangular framing of cannelated pilasters under cornice; years 1637-1935; contains wooden Calvary circa 1640 donated by the Norbertine Jacobus Clou to the sodality of the crucified Savior founded by him cf. Penance Procession. Furnishings: In the main choir: painted triptych attributed to Jan Van Amstel, also to Barend van Orley, from 1534 depicting "Crucifixion of Christ" on the central panel, side panels with left "Visit of the Queen of Sheba" and right "Finding of the True Cross by St. Helena"; triptych closed, left, St. James the Greater, right, "Emperor Constantine with penitent sinner." In the north aisle: "Martyrdom of St. Sebastian" (panel) by Vigor Bouquet, from the mid-17th century. In the south aisle: "Adoration of the Magi and two kneeling religious" (canvas), from the 17th century; "Healing of the Lame" (canvas), from the late 17th century. Against the crossing pillar: painted "Calvary" (panel), from the 16th century (?). Baroque side altars; in the side choir, dated 1741. Renaissance wainscoting (oak) in side aisles, from the 17th century; neo-Renaissance wainscoting in the side choir and choir stalls copied from 17th-century wainscoting of side aisles. Choir lectern (oak) from the 17th century. Bell known as "'t Bomtje" cast in 1379; the only remnant of the carillon robbed during the French Revolution.

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