St. Catherine's Church
Downtown
St. Catherine’s Church – Downtown
St. Catherine’s Church stands right in the heart of Eindhoven, on Catharinaplein. With its two towers, each 73 meters high, the church is one of the city’s most recognizable buildings. It was built between 1860 and 1867 based on a design by Pierre Cuypers, the architect who would later also design the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam. St. Catherine’s Church is considered a highlight of his early work.
The two towers are intentionally different in shape and are named the David Tower and the Mary Tower. Cuypers drew inspiration for this from Chartres Cathedral. The many rose windows also have symbolic meaning: they refer to the wheel, the attribute of Saint Catherine.
A church has stood on this site for centuries. The St. Catherine’s Church in Eindhoven was first mentioned in 1340 and was elevated to the status of a collegiate church in 1399. All that remains of that medieval building are the foundations, which have been made visible just in front of the towers.
The church was severely damaged by bombing raids in 1942 and 1944. During its reconstruction, led by architect C.H. de Bever, new stained-glass windows were installed, designed by Charles Eyck and Pieter Wiegersma, among others. Since 1972, St. Catherine’s Church has been a national historic monument. The building is owned by the municipality of Eindhoven and houses one of the largest organs in the Netherlands; the carillon in the tower is also played regularly.
What the church was in the Middle Ages—the place where the city came together—it still is today. In addition to services, concerts and exhibitions are held there, and there is the Open House: a welcoming living room for anyone who needs it. Everyone is welcome to drop by, light a candle, or take a moment to sit down amid the hustle and bustle of downtown.
Read more about the Open House here
Opening hours
- Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday: from 9:15 a.m. (Sunday Mass) to 4:30 p.m.
- Monday: closed
Address and Contact Information
Church Visiting Address
Catharinaplein 1, 5611 DE Eindhoven
Office visiting and mailing address
Begijnenhof 2, 5611 EL Eindhoven
Phone: (040) 244 88 97 or (06) 41 67 98 62
Email: st.catharinakerk@gmail.com
St. Catherine’s Church does not have its own parish center and falls directly under the Pastoral Center, located in the rectory of St. George’s Church. Open office hours with Father Wilmink: Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sources
Pastoral Center
Sint Jorislaan 51,
5614 AA Eindhoven