Saint Catharine's , centre of religion and culture, has an impressive history. Walking through the little street called "Heultje" , the visitor's eye catches the magnificent view of the massive Saint Catharine's. She was built between 1417 and 1482, whereas in 1456 a major part was destroyed by fire.  In 1462 restauration began, however, money was finished in 1482, resulting in an unfinished church and bellfry. The latter measured at this time 60 meter  (318 stairs) instead of the planned 120 meter and the church is then just up to the transept.  This transept and the choir have not been built yet apart from  the foundations below groundlevel. The nave was closed by a brick wall between two already existing pillars

We enter the church through the south entrance in the east gable, whereas we walk across an curcular brick pavement reading::

’16 KOMT AL TOT GODS HUYS IN 88’ 

(meaning:  "Let everybody enter God's house").  This phrase recalls the departure of  stadhouder Willem III to Engeland  to be crowned as king William. His wife Mary watched the departure of the fleet from the harbour of the village of Hellevoetsluis, so the word goes.

The pillars carry the caps of the side aisles and the nave and are topped with cabbageleaf capitals. Fitted around the pillars one sees 18th century pews which were exclusively reserved for municipality, ecclestiastical and worldly authorities. "Common people" stood or brought their own stool. Not before the 19th century rows of chairs were installed, which were let out.  At the north facade is a gallery,  intended for orphans from the  Merula-orphanage. Pulpit and the so-called  baptize-garden are gifts from 1778. 

If you walk through the side aisles you may have a look at the beautiful stained glass windows. At first you see in the south aisle  the so-called Orange window, placed in remembrance of the marriage of William of Orange to his third wife Charlotte de Bourbon. 

More to the west of the south aisle is the Coppelstock window. The upper part shows the Brielle Meuse (nowadays the Brielle lake) , where ferryman Coppelstock rows the waterbeggars to their ships.  The lower part shows the meeting of the burgomasters of Brielle with Coppelstock showing the seal-ring of admiral Bloys van Treslong as token of the authenticity of the waterbeggars They demand the surrender of the town. The burgomaster however stalled the case which resulted in the assault on the town on April the first 1572 (see the circular middle part of the window)

In the north aisle  the window is dedicated to Angelus Merula, "The orphans' great friend ". Through his fortune the Merula Orphanage was founded (in the southwestern direction of the church) as well as the housing of old people. 

Finally there is the window of  Rochus Meeuweszoon. He destroyed the little sluice of Nieuwland on April the 5th 1572, thus inundating the polders on the eastside of Brielle and therefore preventing the Spaniards  from recapturing Brielle on the waterbeggars

In the meantime you have been passing several large sepulchral monuments, like the one dedicated to the hero of the seas admiral  Philips van Almonde. Three large  guildboards, dedicated to the carpenters (above the southern entrance), the tailors (on the southern towerpillars) and to the merchants (above the northern entrance of the eastfacade) must have drawn your attention. They are decorated with biblical texts, referring to the corcerning occupation. 

The large Ten commandments board from 1677 and the organ from 1854 are fixed to the eastwall. Climbing the tower (318 stairs) brings you to the platform, from which you have a magnificient view over Brielle, one of the 18 towns of medieval Holland. Have you become curious? Then we invite you to visit church and tower of Brielle in reality.  

An extensive acquaintance of church and  tower  you may have by buying the book:

DE SINT-CATHARIJNE

'a monument of history and art.'

Text and  photo’s  by Henk Vegter.

 (unfortunately only in Dutch language for the time being)