Eglise Saint-Nicolas (St. Nicholas Church), Brussels

Dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, the patron saint of sailors (famously known as Santa Claus), this church has a history dating back to the 12th century but has undergone significant restoration efforts on several occasions – most notably in the 1950s when portions of its exterior were reconstructed in a simple Gothic style. One distinctive feature is the deliberate orientation of its three broad nave aisles, which were built at an angle to the chancel to accommodate a nearby stream. An intriguing relic of the past is the cannonball embedded high up in the third pillar on the left side of the nave, a remnant from the French bombardment of 1695.

Inside the church, you can find valuable artworks such as 'The Virgin and Child' painting by Rubens and the Vladimir Icon from Constantinople, dating back to 1131. Among other art pieces, there's also a splendid gilded copper reliquary shrine in the right-hand aisle, crafted in Germany during the 19th century to honor a group of Catholics martyred by Protestants in Gorinchem, Netherlands, in 1572.

In recent years, there were discussions about demolishing this historic church to make way for vehicular traffic. Fortunately, none of these plans came to fruition, and it remains preserved, much like the charming ancient architecture that surrounds it.