Sint-Niklaaskerk

The Sint-Niklaaskerk is a church on the Korenmarkt in Ghent. Around 1100 there was a Romanesque church here, which was built by order of St. Peter's Abbey. Part of this building burned down in 1120 and in 1200 another part of the church was demolished. From the 12th century, the church was further rebuilt and renovated. The church building is dedicated to Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of skippers, bakers and merchants. This patron saint was very important at the time, because Ghent had the exclusive right to import grain into Flanders. In the late Middle Ages, side chapels were built near the church. From the 16th century the church was neglected and as a result the church fell into disrepair. Later, the church was restored to its former glory through large-scale restorations. Now only small parts of the church need to be renovated. Unique to this church is the crossing tower, a lantern tower that illuminates the transept.