St. Catherine's Church, Eindhoven, Netherlands

St. Catherine's Church, built in 1861-1867, is probably the highlight in the first period of P.J.H. Cuypers' long and fruitful career. It's a three-aisled cruciform basilican church with a three-aisled transept and a choir with an ambulatory and three hexagonal radiating chapels. At the front the church has three connected porches and two differently detailed towers. Its design was based on 13th-century French Gothic churches, especially those of Chartres and Reims. The church replaced a derelict medieval church. For this church Cuypers used many of the ideas about symbolism in Gothicism, published by J.A. Alberdingk Thijm, Cuypers' friend and future brother-in-law and one of the leading members in the movement for equal rights for catholics. In one important aspect Cuypers does not follow these ideas; the church is not oriented, which means that the choir is not built at the eastern part of the church. The difference between the two towers is an idea that Cuypers did follow.

Both towers are 70 metres tall. Alberdingk Thijm was convinced that a long lost secret symbolism was the reason behind the difference between the two towers, as seen on many French Gothic churches. For this church Cuypers designed two different towers. The southern tower is the more refined of the two and represents the Ivory Tower, symbol of the purity of Mary. The northern tower is decorated with turrets and battlements; this 'defensive' look represents the Tower of David, symbol of strength. It is nowadays widely believed that the difference between the towers of medieval churches was caused by financial reasons more than anything else, so Alberdingk Thijm was probably wrong. More symbolism is found in the many rose-windows, referring to St. Catharina, whose attribute is a wheel. The porches are decorated with sculptures, executed in natural stone.

In 1942 the church was heavily damaged by bombs, and was restored after the war by architect C.H. de Bever. Vincent van Gogh painted a pencil sketch of St. Catherine's church in 1885.

References:

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Religious sites in Netherlands

User Reviews

Erick Hasbun (2 years ago)
Great architecture on this old building. The area where the church is located is also very nice you can find a lot restaurants and shopping. Beautiful church!

Z (2 years ago)
I liked a lot of visit the church real beautifully inside and outside.

Nicky Pontuti (2 years ago)
Very beautiful stain glass windows. Interesting displays however some were creepy.

Ishanka Hasaranga (2 years ago)
A beautiful historic church in middle of Eindhoven city. It has twin towers and the view is really amazing. You can always enter inside and it is even more beautiful from inside. Truly colourful.

Erin (2 years ago)
I passed by the church on Saturday noon. There was an open market in front of it. I think it’s a common Dutch open market that regularly opens on Saturday. The church’s building is beautiful. Too bad, some people left their trashes at the small stair in front of it after sitting there.

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