At the beginning of the eighth century, the then missionary Willibrord dedicated a small church on what is now Domplein to Saint Martin. From that moment on, this saint from Tours, who had once cut his cloak in half before the gate of Amiens in order to give half of it to a beggar, would remain forever associated with Utrecht. For example, both the Romanesque and the Gothic Dom Church were dedicated to Saint Martin. Even after the Reformation, Sint Maarten continued to play a role. The red and white city coat of arms, for example, refers to the cloak that Sint Maarten once shared.
Sint Maarten in many places in Utrecht
The long history of St. Maarten and the city can still be seen in many places in Utrecht, such as in the courtyard of the Dom, where reliefs of events from the life of St. Maarten can be found, or in a large statue at the Martinuskerk on the Oudegracht. The largely medieval city center is rich in traces of St. Maarten.
Saint Martin, patron saint of Utrecht
Saint Martin in Utrecht. Traces of a patron saint offers a clear overview of the connection between the patron saint and the city. It tells about the bridges, squares, churches, houses and museums where images or stories still remind of the man who shared his cloak. This makes the book an ideal starting point for your own exploration of St. Maarten's traces in the cathedral city.
