Short timeline St. Nicholas Chapel and Valkhof

19 BC. - 400 Romans
During this period, the Romans build a castellum on the Valkhof Hill.


481 - 843  481 - 843 Frankish empire
Emperor Charlemagne built a palace on and with the remains of the Roman castellum in 777.






912 - 1002 The Ottonians
Emperor Otto II marries the Byzantine princess Theophanu in 972.
Their son Otto III founds St Nicholas Chapel in memory of his mother.





1047 Fire!
Lorraine knights set fire to the palace during a revolt against King Henry II. The St Nicholas chapel becomes badly battered.




1152 - 1155 Construction of the castle
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa (1122 - 1190) builds a huge castle on the ruins. The St. Nicholas Chapel is enclosed within the castle walls.


1400 Renovation
The St. Nicholas Chapel is renovated and partly rebuilt in Gothic style. The turret is raised and the extension (apse/choir) is built on.

1543 Paintings
In honour of Emperor Charles V's (1500-1558) visit to Nijmegen, ceiling paintings are installed in the chapel.



1568 - 1648 Eighty Years' War
The St Nicholas Chapel is used as a kitchen, horse stable and storehouse. Duke Alva (Catholic) and Prince Maurice (Protestant) take turns staying at the fortress.

1794 Siege!
The French invade Nijmegen. The St. Nicolas Chapel and the castle are severely damaged by the shelling.

1796 - 1797 Farewell
The castle is demolished. The St Nicholas Chapel and St Martin's Chapel (Barbarossa ruins) are kept.

± 1800 City park
Architect Zocher designs a city park for the resulting barren plain. The Valkhof thus becomes one of the oldest city parks in the Netherlands.

1940 - 1945 World War II
During Operation Market Garden, there is heavy fighting in and around the Valkhof Park.
The St Nicolas Chapel serves as a sleeping place for the German and later British soldiers and came out of the battle almost unscathed.

1978 The Valkhof Association
This voluntary organisation is founded to save the St. Nicolas Chapel from further decay and to bring its history to the attention of the public.

 2021 Restoration of paintings
 The wall and vault paintings in the Nicolaaskapel are in very poor condition. Conservation and restoration is taking place.