St. Catherine's Church

St. Catherine's Church, or Catharinakerk, is the principal Roman Catholic church in the centre of Eindhoven, standing on Catharinaplein. It is a neo-Gothic building from the nineteenth century, and its tall tower is one of the few historic landmarks in a city that is mostly known for modern industry and design. Eindhoven grew explosively in the twentieth century thanks to the Philips company, and much of the old town was lost, so the church holds a special place in the city's identity.

The dedication is to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a martyr of the early Christian period who is often shown with a wheel, the instrument of her torture, and who was a popular saint in the Middle Ages. The present church replaced an earlier building, and its design follows the Gothic Revival style that was fashionable in the nineteenth century, with pointed arches, tall windows, buttresses and a soaring spire. The revival was a sign of the growing confidence of Dutch Catholics after the restoration of the church hierarchy in the country in the 1850s.

Inside, the church has the traditional layout of a Gothic cathedral on a smaller scale, with a long nave, side aisles and a choir, and a decorated interior that includes stained glass and religious art. It is still used for worship, and it also serves the wider community as a concert venue, with its acoustics and atmosphere making it popular for choir and organ performances. Check the schedule of services, concerts and open hours before visiting, since access varies.

The church is close to many of the city's cultural attractions. The Van Abbemuseum is one of Europe's leading museums of modern and contemporary art, while the Philips Museum tells the history of the company that built the city. The DAF Museum and the PSV Museum add subjects for vehicle and football fans, and the Prehistoric Village in the Genneper Parken offers a quite different journey into the past. In autumn, the GLOW festival fills the streets with light art.

The church suits visitors interested in architecture, music and religious history, and it offers a quiet place in a busy city. Spend a few minutes inside, and then follow the shopping streets towards the Markt or walk to the Dommel river for a view of modern Eindhoven. Eindhoven’s city centre is compact, and Visitors can walk everywhere.