The Old Tower (Oude Toren), Eindhoven

Standing as a silent witness to centuries of change, the Old Tower (Oude Toren) in Eindhoven’s Woensel district is the last remnant of a medieval church dedicated to Saint Peter. Built between the 14th and 15th centuries, this Kempen Gothic brick structure was once part of a larger church complex, which itself replaced an earlier 11th- or 12th-century place of worship. The tower, which originally reached 63 meters in height with a striking spire, played a key role in the religious and social life of Woensel, which was at the time a separate settlement.

At its peak, the Saint Peter’s Church of Woensel served as the mother church of Eindhoven, overseeing a vast deanery. However, the church’s fate took a dramatic turn on November 9, 1800, when a powerful hurricane toppled the spire, sending it crashing into the nave. By then, the church had recently returned to Catholic hands after more than 150 years under Protestant rule. Lacking funds for full restoration, the Catholic community abandoned the church and relocated their services to a barn church on Woenselsestraat.

Despite the nave’s destruction, the tower was repaired in 1801, albeit with a shorter spire, reducing its height to 43 meters. This decision was likely influenced by the tower’s public functions-its bells signaled danger, and its sturdy structure provided shelter in times of conflict. The ruined church nave, however, was permanently demolished between 1815 and 1817. A new Saint Peter’s Church was eventually built in 1875-1876, a few hundred meters away.

Today, the Old Tower stands within the general cemetery of Woensel, where the Philips family, including Anton Philips and his son Frits, are buried. In 1954, a funeral auditorium was built on the site of the former church nave, with an archaeological dig in 1955 uncovering remnants of the original medieval church, including a mud floor and a layer of burnt grain. Surrounded by modern buildings yet still carrying the weight of history, the Old Tower remains a national monument and a poignant reminder of Eindhoven’s medieval past.