St Nicholas Church, Westkapelle

St Nicholas is a Catholic church building in the Flemish village of Westkapelle. The first church dedicated to this saint was founded in the 12th century. The current St Nicholas Church was completely rebuilt in 2018 after the previous building collapsed as a consequence of a fire.

About this building

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments

Visitors information

  • Level access throughout
  • On street parking at the building
  • Café within 500m

Other nearby buildings

LimoWreck / CC BY-SA 3.0

St. Margretchurch

In 1227, a chapel of Saint Catherine was mentioned. The chapel has probably been incorporated in the later Saint Margaret's Church. This church was first mentioned in 1477. Its tower was an important beacon for shipping. the church suffered from the Iconoclasm in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The building was restored in 1613. In 1796 the church was confiscated by the French administration and returned to the parish in 1801. The church was enlarged in 1852, according to plans by P. Buyck and in 1905 a new choir section was built. The building was severely damaged due to the Second World War. A new church was built from 1955 until 1958. The tower structure could be preserved after the war and became a classified monument in 1938. The church was rededicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Margaret Church in 1958.

PMRMaeyaert / CC BY-SA 3.0

Our Lady of the Visitation Church

The current brick church was built in the middle of the 13th century and has an Early Gothic style. The choir, transept, nave, and tower were constructed in the second half of the 13th century. The building was demolished by fire in 1586. The choir was restored in 1613 and the transept in 1617. A restoration was carried out in 1862: the upper part of the tower was rebuilt and the remains of the 13th-century frescoes were found in the transept. The second restoration was conducted between 1890 and 1912: all plaster was removed, but the remaining frescoes were lost. Various restoration works were also carried out in later years.

Protestantse Kerk

Historical church with tower. Also called Mariakerk. Built in 1686. From 1686 to 1791 the Walloon Reformed Church also used the building.