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Saint Nicholas
Church
The Saint Nicholas church is one of the oldest church
in Brussels. The church was named after Saint Nicholas, the
patron saint of the traders, which was not really a surprise
because the trade center, was located at a few steps, just around
the corner. The church was built in an asymmetrical way because
in the earlier days an irregular and small river used to run
through the street, dividing the church in different parts.
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The entrance to the Saint Nicholas church dates
from the second half of the 12th century, and the choir was
completed in 138. The side-chapel was built in 1486.
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During the religious troubles of the 16th century,
the church was plundered. In 1695, during the attack of Brussels
by the French armies, the church was burned completely. In
one of the pillars of the Holy Virgin chapel, we can still
see a canon ball from that tragic date.
During the Middle-Ages the relatively high church tower served
as the city belfry (watchtower), but in 1714 it collapsed,
killing 1 man and 1 pig.
In 1929 a plan was proposed to demolish the church because
it hindered the traffic in the Boterstraat. But, thanks to
god, the plan was never executed.
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