Sint-Catharinakerk

Sint-Catharinakerk stands in Eindhoven as a Roman Catholic church designed by architect Pierre Cuypers. Its two towers differ in height and shape: the southern, slimmer tower represents Mary’s purity, while the northern tower represents David’s strength. A large portal sculpture marks the entrance, a feature unique among Cuypers’ churches.

Built to replace an earlier, deteriorating church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the building combines colourful brickwork with stone reliefs. Its original stained-glass windows were destroyed during the 1942 bombing and replaced by colourful post-war glass. Restoration work is returning the original stone floor, repairing the reliefs, and renewing the roof with purple slate from Wales.

Since 1974, the municipality of Eindhoven has owned the church, which hosts services, concerts, exhibitions, and performances. Collegium Musicum Eindhoven organises the Muziek in de Cathrien concert series, while the wheelchair-accessible interior remains part of Eindhoven’s cultural life. Rose windows reference Saint Catherine through her wheel symbol, adding a striking detail to this national monument.