Sint-Niklaas is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders. Sint-Niklaas is the capital and major city of the Waasland region straddling the East Flanders and Antwerp provinces. The city is known for having the largest market square in Belgium. At one point this square also boasted the largest Christmas tree, and the largest easter egg in Europe.
From Sint-Niklaas it is possible to visit several historic towns and villages on the banks of river Schelde, and it offers a good starting point for cycling trips along the beautiful tidal landscapes on the river shores.
Sights
- The main Church of Saint Nicholas was founded in the 13th century and gave its name to the city. After heavy damage in the 16th century, the interior was redone in the Baroque style.
- St. Joseph Minor Seminary, catholic school.
- The Church of Our Lady, built in the 19th century, famous for its Byzantine revival interior, and 6m tall statue of our lady on top, covered in fine gold.
- Town Hall, in gothical revival style was built after the old hall burned down.
- The largest market square in Belgium, founded by Margaret II, Countess of Flanders.
- The Gerardus Mercator Museum traces the history of cartography back to its origins. The museum also houses two original globes that belonged to the famous cartographer.
- Other churches and museums include: Saint Joseph, Christ the King, Saloons of Fine Arts and Zwijgershoek.
Events
- On the first weekend of September, Sint-Niklaas hosts an international balloon meeting (“Vredesfeesten”) and a three-day music festival called “Villa Pace”.
- During the last week of the year, Sint-Niklaas is the host of the Flanders Volley Gala, an international volleyball tournament.
- The city keeps seven giants: Janneken, Mieke, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet, and the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
Tour of Flanders
The Tour of Flanders (Flemish, Ronde van Vlaanderen ) bicycle road race moved its start to the market square at Sint-Niklaas from Ghent in 1977, mainly because the great square provided close proximity for the growing number of spectators. By 1988 the start had grown into a two-day affair with a spectacle presented by BRT television the previous night. Since 1998 the start of the race has taken place in Brugge.
