From various sources it is known that there has been a chapel in Oost-Vlieland since 1245. It was dedicated to St. Nicolas, the patron saint of tradespeople and seafarers.
After the Reformation the chapel was confiscated by the Protestants and it became one of the first Protestant churches in the Netherlands. When West-Vlieland was washed into the sea and its population moved to Oost-Vlieland, the church had to be expanded. This was accomplished in 1647.
St. Nicolas church [‘Nicolaas Kerk’] is a true sailor church. It was built with wood from wrecked ships; the wooden pillar within the church used to be a ship’s mast. The church consists of Frisian bricks and brass chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The wealth of the Dutch Golden Age [seventeenth century] is still to be seen in the church’s interior.
In the church one can also find old whale jaws; they were once used as gravestones.