St. Catherine's Church

The church of Sinaai dates back to 1267 but was thoroughly renovated and enlarged around 1841-1844 by the Ghent architect Lodewijk Roelandt in the neo-Byzantine style. The church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria (9), a popular medieval saint whose life story we do not want to withhold from you!

Behind the church lies the well-preserved square with a 120-year-old liberty tree at its center.

A notable resident of Sinaai was Edgar Tinel. He was an award-winning pianist and composer who found inspiration in mystical Catholicism. A museum has been established in his birthplace.

Saint Catherine's Church
Dries 9112 Sinaai (Sint-Niklaas)
Visiting hours:
Daily: 9 am - 5 pm (not accessible on Sundays)

Edgar Tinel Museum
Edgar Tinelstraat 33 9112 Sinaai (Sint-Niklaas)
Visiting hours:
Oct.-April: Last Sunday of the month: 2:30 pm - 5 pm.

Catherine of Alexandria (9)
Saint Catherine was a noblewoman from Alexandria in Egypt. She was praised for her knowledge of philosophy and her piety. She refused the marriage proposal of the Roman Emperor Maxentius. He could not bear this rejection and wanted to force her to renounce her faith. He threatened her with torture and sent forty pagan philosophers to convert her, but instead of Catherine, the scholars converted to Christianity. He then wanted to have her crushed with a wheel mounted with sharp iron points. However, the wheel broke instead of Catherine. He wanted to have her burned, but the fire blew apart and burned the executioners. Ultimately, he succeeded in beheading her. From her wound flowed milk that freed the city from the plague.

Stichting Open Kerken