The St. Getrude's Church has a striking tower; due to its shape, it's called “The Pepper Pot”. The main body of the tower, made of white natural stone, is the oldest part of the complex and dates from around 1370. The construction of the church was completed in approximately 1470.
The church owes its name to Saint Gertrude (626-659), abbess of the convent of Nivelles. A legend tells that she founded the church during her visit to Bergen op Zoom in 654 and caused a spring to appear.
In the church, a large painting measuring approximately 5m by 3m hangs on the high, wooden wall on the southwest side. It was presumably painted by the Flemish artist Peter van de Velde (1643-1723). It depicts “The Deposition from the Cross”, on which Mary is also shown.
On the south side of the church is the Sacred Heart chapel. Against the high window hangs a large stained-glass window by Joan (Johan Coenraad) Colette (1889-1958) from 1930. The image depicts the message of the angel Gabriel to Mary.
The following chapel on the south side is the Saint Joseph's Chapel. Here too hangs a large stained-glass window by Joan Colette from 1930. Mary is depicted here on her deathbed.
The next chapel is dedicated to Saint Sebastian. The stained-glass window shows images of Mary and her parents, Anne and Joachim. The artwork bears the year 1892.
In the second south transept, church treasures are on display, including a silver staved Madonna. In this transept, a large stained-glass window by Joan Colette can be seen, featuring Mary and the Holy Family on the left. The window frame dates from around 1930. On another stained-glass window, Mary is depicted in a blue mantle. This window was also made by Joan Colette.
In the second north transept, there are several depictions of Mary, including a banner. In the next chapel, there is a Mary altar, and above this altar, a painting of “Mary with Child” is displayed.
In the “Marian Devotion Chapel” stands a large statue of Mary, which was made in the early 20th century. Opposite the statue hangs a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
At the back of the church hangs the painting “Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted”. This large work of art was painted in 1861 by the then 20-year-old Piet (Pierre Jean) Van der Ouderaa (1841-1915), who originally hailed from Bergen op Zoom and was a native of Antwerp.
In 2021, the daily church was rebuilt as the Sacramentskapel. This chapel is adjacent to the church space and tower. Here hang two large stained-glass windows. They are designed by Piet (Petrus Josephus Cornelius Clijsen (1909-1977) and were executed by Karel Mijnsbergen (1897). The stained-glass window depicting “The Assumption of Mary” was made in 1935.
In the Sacraments Chapel is the Procession Chapel. In this chapel stands the large statue of Mary, which goes through the centre in the annual Maria Procession on the last Sunday of June. The crown jewels of the Maria Procession are also displayed here, which were blessed in Rome in 2016 by Pope Francis (2013), Jorge Maria Bergoglio (1936).
In the tower room stands a large statue of Mary, which is 2.5 m high, making it the largest of Our Lady in Bergen op Zoom.
