The St. Catharinakerk, a Roman Catholic church located in the city center of Eindhoven, has a rich history dating back to 1867, when the current building was completed. Designed by Pierre Cuypers, he tried to bring to life the vision of Catholic writer Joseph Alberdingk Thijm, in which the two 73-metre towers each took on a symbolic meaning: one represents masculinity and the other femininity.
Despite the many challenges over the years, including two bombings during World War II in 1942 and 1944, St. Catherine’s Church remains an iconic landmark in the city. Since 1972, it has been recognized as a national monument and still serves as a venue for religious services and special events, such as the annual Glow light show.
Future plans for the church include an ambitious project to raise the building and create space for apartments under the church. This innovative idea, which retains its historic character while adding new homes to the city center, embodies the progressive spirit of Eindhoven. With a weight of 1200 tons, lifting the church seems like a huge challenge, but in Eindhoven nothing is impossible. Merging the old with the new is a core value of the city, and these plans promise to make the city even more beautiful.
Fun fact: During his stay in Eindhoven and Nuenen, Vincent Van Gogh captured St. Catherine’s Church several times in his paintings (see the photos).
- ‘Church building with two spires’
- ‘Walking couple’
- ‘Landscape with walkers’
Would you like to experience more Van Gogh in Eindhoven and Nuenen? Then book our bike tour In the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh.
