St Nicholas' Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk) is the grey stone church at the end of the Korenmarkt, Ghent's old grain market, and one of the oldest landmarks in the city. Begun in the early 13th century, it is a textbook example of Scheldt Gothic. Its tower stands over the crossing rather than above the entrance, and before the Belfry was built it served as the town's lookout and held its bells.
St Nicholas' Church at a glance
- Where: on the Korenmarkt, between St Michael's Bridge and the Belfry, in the middle of the old town.
- Built: from the early 13th century, replacing an earlier Romanesque church; side chapels were added in the 14th and 15th centuries.
- What it is today: an active Catholic parish church, open to visitors, with a restored nave and a Romantic organ from 1856.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes inside, a few more to walk round the outside.
The merchants' church
St Nicholas is the patron saint of merchants, and the church stood in Ghent's busiest trading quarter, next to the grain market and the quays of the Leie. It was built through the 13th century in blue-grey stone from Tournai, shipped down the Scheldt, in the local style now called Scheldt Gothic: a single big tower over the crossing and slender turrets at the corners. The city helped pay for the tower, which served as an observation post and held the town bells until the Belfry took over that role. The guilds whose members worked nearby added their own chapels along the sides in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Over the following centuries the building decayed until its stability was at risk. Cracks were plastered over, windows were bricked up, and in the 18th century small houses and shops were built right against its walls. Interest in the church as a monument grew from around 1840, and at the turn of the 20th century a major restoration began. The houses were cleared away and the work has continued in phases ever since, which is why the stone looks so clean today.
What to look for
- The crossing tower: look up from the Korenmarkt to see the lantern tower over the crossing, which lets daylight into the centre of the church, with four slim corner turrets around it.
- The stone: the blue-grey Tournai limestone of the walls, typical of Scheldt Gothic.
- The organ: a Romantic instrument by the French builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, inaugurated in 1856. It stands on the loft above the west entrance and has been playable again after decades of silence.
- The high altar: its painting by Nicolaas de Liemaeckere, a 17th-century Ghent painter admired by Rubens, shows St Nicholas being made bishop of Myra.
- The stained glass: 19th-century windows by Capronnier with the life of Mary and the Crucifixion, and modern windows by Herman Blondeel showing the seven sacraments.
Ghent's three towers
Stand on St Michael's Bridge and look east: the towers of St Nicholas, the Belfry and St Bavo's Cathedral rise one behind the other in a single line. This is the classic Ghent skyline, and St Nicholas is the oldest of the three. Its tower was the city's first lookout and bell tower; the Belfry, built later, took over the bells and the watchmen, and the cathedral tower completes the row.
Tips for your visit
- Visit in the morning, when the Korenmarkt is quiet and soft light falls on the west front.
- For the classic three-tower photo, go to St Michael's Bridge, ideally at sunset or after dark, when the towers are lit.
- This is a working church: keep your voice down, and avoid walking around during Mass. If you hear the organ being played, stay and listen.
Nearby
- St Michael's Bridge: the early 20th-century bridge over the Leie with the best view of Ghent's towers, a minute's walk away.
- The Belfry: the 14th-century bell tower with its gilded dragon on top, part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing of belfries in Belgium and France.
- Graslei and Korenlei: the two quays of guild houses facing each other across the Leie, the city's old harbour.
- Gravensteen: the castle of the Counts of Flanders, a short walk north.
See Ghent with World City Trail
Our Ghent scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 11 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 30 minutes of walking. It includes places such as St Michael's Church, St Michael's Bridge, the Belfry and St Bavo's Cathedral.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Ghent.
Play the Ghent scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Ghent →
Play the outdoor escape game in Ghent →
Facts checked in October 2026.