City: In the Belgian province of East
Flanders, between Ghent and Antwerp, lies the city of Sint-Niklaas.
The city is considered to be the capital of the Waasland (Belgian
region). The population is around 72,000 people. The history
of the city began in 1217. The bishop of Tournai founded a
church on this spot dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, popularly
known as 'Santa Claus'. For this reason the city came to be
known as Sint Niklaas (St. Nicholas).
Due to the rise of the textile industry in the 18th century,
the city came to be, second only to Ghent, one of the main,
biggest industrial cities in East Flanders. In 1804 Sint-Niklaas
received town rights from Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, after
he had paid a visit there in 1803. The population then was
around 11,000 people.
Striking today is the large market square with its many
historic buildings. A document from 1248 states that Margaret
II of Flanders added six acres of land west of the church
onto St. Nicholas, on condition that no buildings were ever
to be erected on this area of land. To this day the land has
remained just as she requested it. Therefore, Sint-Niklaas
possesses the largest market in Belgium, comprising 2.3 hectares.
Obviously, besides the local market, the area provides a wonderful
opportunity for numerous other events.
In this large market, we find many historic buildings.
Some of them are the beautiful 19th century town hall, a neo-Gothic
building, and the belfry tower. Behind them is the characteristic
church of Our Lady. Hidden among the other buildings on the
square stands the old St. Nicholas Church.
Building: St. Nicholas Church
Even though the St. Nicholas Church is somewhat hidden,
it is certainly not a small church. This five-aisled church
has been a listed monument since 1971. The interior of the
church is baroque and neo-gothic. The church has seven altars,
confessionals and a large organ. The church has a rich treasure
of art of religious objects.
God’s name: In the church we find
the name of God four times in the form of the tetragrammaton.
On top of the main altar in a prominent place.
In the carved marble altar bench, supported by two cherubs.
The Baroque pulpit from 1706, made by Michael Verbanck,
carved in Antwerp, contains the tetragrammaton twice. On one
side of the pulpit, surrounded by angels, is it clearly visible,
but the first and smallest letter, the Yod (J), is not painted
gold, like the other three letters.
In the "heaven" from the pulpit,
we find the name again in a radiant triangle surrounded by
clouds.
