Sint-Jacobskerk (St James' Church) stands in the middle of its own square, Bij Sint-Jacobs, a few minutes north of Ghent's Belfry. Its two Romanesque west towers date from the 12th century, making it one of the oldest churches in the city. It is also considered the oldest church in the Low Countries dedicated to the apostle James, a reminder of the pilgrims who set out from Ghent for Santiago de Compostela.
Sint-Jacobskerk at a glance
- Where: Bij Sint-Jacobs, between the Vrijdagmarkt and the Belfry in Ghent's old town.
- Built: a wooden church stood here in the 11th century; the Romanesque church with its west towers followed in the 12th century, and the building was extended in Gothic style and restored in the 19th century.
- What it is today: a parish church that also works as a 'church of culture', hosting concerts and events alongside services.
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes inside, more if the flea market is on outside.
From Romanesque church to Baroque interior
A wooden church dedicated to Saint James stood on this spot in the 11th century, possibly linked to pilgrims leaving or passing through Ghent on the way to Santiago. About a century later it was replaced by a Romanesque stone church, whose two towers still frame the west front. Over the following centuries the church was damaged, repaired and extended, and it gained its Gothic body; in the 19th century it was thoroughly restored.
The church was hit hard in the iconoclasm of 1566. The chronicler Marcus van Vaernewyck, who was a churchwarden here, described how youths damaged the church on 21 August, and how nearly all its furnishings were destroyed in the night of 22 to 23 August. In 1579 Abbot Ghisleen Temmerman of St Peter's Abbey commissioned a new triptych for the high altar from the Flemish painter Michiel Coxcie, and it is still in the church. The interior you see today is largely Baroque.
What to look for
- The two Romanesque towers on the west front, the oldest part of the church, from the 12th century.
- The scallop shell set into a flagstone at the main entrance, the symbol of Saint James and of the pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela.
- Michiel Coxcie's triptych of 1579 for the high altar. Its outer shutters were hidden in wall niches for centuries, rediscovered in 1899 and placed in the nave in 1997.
- The tomb of Jan Palfijn, the surgeon credited with inventing an obstetric forceps.
- The organ by the Van Peteghem family of organ builders, and the mix of Romanesque structure and Baroque altars and paintings.
The square of the Ghent Festivities
Bij Sint-Jacobs is the traditional home of the Gentse Feesten, the city's ten-day festival in July. In 1969 the folk singer Walter De Buck revived the festivities from Café Trefpunt on this square, and the area around the church is still one of the liveliest during the festival. On other days the square hosts a long-running flea market, with antiques and curiosity shops in the surrounding streets.
Tips for your visit
- Opening times are limited and change through the year, and the church sometimes closes for services or private ceremonies, so check before a special trip.
- Combine your visit with a browse at the flea market on the square, then walk on to the Vrijdagmarkt.
- For a photo of both towers, stand at the west end of the square, facing the main entrance.
Nearby
- Vrijdagmarkt: one of Ghent's oldest squares, with the statue of the 14th-century leader Jacob van Artevelde, a couple of minutes' walk away.
- Dulle Griet: the giant red 15th-century cannon on a small square near the Vrijdagmarkt.
- Belfry of Ghent: the medieval bell tower, part of the Belfries of Belgium and France World Heritage Site, a few minutes' walk south.
- St Bavo's Cathedral: home of the Van Eyck brothers' Ghent Altarpiece, next to the Belfry.
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 the Belfry, St Bavo's Cathedral, St Michael's Church and St Michael's Bridge.
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.