Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Sint-Niklaaskerk

Veurne was settlement in possession of the Saint Bertin Abbey in Saint-Omer. The place got fortified against Viking raids around 890. When Veurne became a city in the 12th century, trade with England flourished, but when the relations with England came to a standstill and the city’s economy went into decline. The Sint-Niklaaskerk was originally erected within the 12th century and was a part of a Premonstratensian convent. Only the lower part of the tower (48 metres tall) dates to that era. The church was rebuilt 1494 - 1498 in Gothic style.

Veurne was settlement in possession of the Saint Bertin Abbey in Saint-Omer (50kms southwest). The place got fortified against Viking raids around 890. When Veurne became a city in the 12th century, trade with England flourished, but when the relations with England came to a standstill and the city’s economy went into decline. Around noontime the farmer's market is closing down on the "Grote Markt". Seen in the backdrop is the tower of the Sint-Niklaaskerk (Saint Nicholas).

To my big surprise I found this statue of Father Damian inside Sint-Niklaaskerk. I had come across this name, when I followed a story on Oahu some decades ago - and had ended in Kalaupapa, a peninsula of Molokai. Father Damien (aka "Saint Damien of Molokai") was born in 1840 as Jef de Veuster in Tremelo, about 80kms east of Ghent. From 1864 on, he worked as a missionary on Hawaiʻi (aka "Big Island"). During that time, under the reign of Kamehameha V., the last Hawaiian King, people suffering from leprosy, believed to be incurable, were brought to Molokai, where they were isolated on Kaulapapa, a peninsula that could only be reached from the sea. Upto 1200 persons lived here in total isolation and without any medical care, as leprosy was believed to be highly infective. After Father Damien had learned about that situation, he decided to settle in the leprosy colony, what he did in 1873. He erected a church on Kalaupapa and cared for his suffering parishioners. After 16 years in the leper colony, Father Damien died of leprosy in 1889. He was canonized in 2009.

The erection of the Sint-Niklaaskerk (= Saint Nicholas' Church) started in the 13th century and replaced earlier Romanesque church here. It was built in a Gothic style, that later got typical for the area. This is not the bishop´s chathedral. This church, located next to the busy Kornmarkt, was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of merchants, sailors, coopers and pawnbrokers. So the guilds greatly funded this building. Later the guilds even had their own chapels, added to the sides of the church.

Sint-Niklaaskerk (= Saint Nicholas' Church) as seen from the bridge over the Leie river. The erection of this large church started in the 13th century and replaced earlier Romanesque church here. It was built in a Gothic style, that later got typical for the area. This is not the bishop´s chathedral. This church, located next to the busy Kornmarkt, was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of merchants, sailors, coopers and pawnbrokers. So the guilds greatly funded this building. Later the guilds even had their own chapels, added to the sides of the church. Until the Belfry of Ghent, seen in the backdrop, was built, Sint-Niklaaskerk´s tower served as an observation post and carried the town bells.