Siegen - Nikolaikirche

The city of Siegen (pop. 100.000) got its name probably from the
river name Sieg. The city´s history is connected to mining, some mines date back to the late Iron Age.

In 1224 the "Oberes Schloss" ("upper castle") existed already was already standing at this time, in 1303, the town was granted town rights.

In the 16th century, the town was surrounded by walls with 16 towers and three town gates. After the Refomarmation Protestands (Calvinists) and Catholics lived here side by side. A sometimes violent neighborhood. Mid 18th century the wealthy area was part of the Principality of Orange-Nassau, ruled by William I, who was Prince of Orange-Nassau, Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands.

In 1815 Siegen was assigned to the Prussian Province of Westphalia.

In 1577, Peter Paul Rubens, the the best known son of the city, was born here to the Calvinists Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelincks, who had fled Antwerp.

The Nikolaikirche was erected in the center of the medieval town within the 13th century. It was obviously not possible to built a "traditional" church with a long nave on the hilly ground, so the church was erected as a complex, but compact hexagon.

On top of the tower is a golden Crown, called the "Krönchen", Siegen´s landmark. The crown was presented to the citizens of Siegen in 1652 by Johann Moritz zu Nassau-Siegen, after his ennoblement.

The crown is about 1,90 m high and has a diameter of about 1,35 m. Seen on top of the tower is meanwhile a copy. The original from 1652 is kept inside the church.