St. Catherine’s is first of all a Catholic community: a place where people are brought together by faith in Christ and by the celebration of the Eucharist. Our particular mission is to students, offering them a home in the Church during an important and formative time in their lives.
We are part of the Diocesan Student Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria, established by the Diocese of Rotterdam and active in three university cities: Rotterdam, Delft and Leiden. Together, these three locations form one student parish, seeking to connect faith with study, personal formation and the questions that shape our lives.
The Rotterdam community has a particularly international character. Students from the Netherlands and from all over the world worship alongside young professionals, couples and families, and people who have made the Eendrachtskapel their spiritual home over the years. Some are here for only a semester; others remain part of the community long after their student years have ended.
This mixture of people is an important part of who we are: a Catholic community centred on students, but one in which different generations, nationalities and walks of life share the same altar and belong to the same life of faith.
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rotterdam:
About us
St. Catherine of Alexandria
St. Catherine of Alexandria is the patron saint of our student parish and, for centuries, has been honoured as a patron of students, scholars and universities.
St. Catherine lived in Alexandria in Egypt at the beginning of the fourth century. A young woman of exceptional learning and deep Christian faith, she was brought before the emperor after refusing to abandon her faith. When learned philosophers were summoned to dispute with her, Catherine defended the Christian faith with such wisdom and eloquence that they were unable to overcome her arguments. She eventually suffered martyrdom for Christ.
Her association with learning in the service of faith made St. Catherine a particularly beloved saint in the medieval universities, where she became a patron of students and scholars. She reminds us that faith does not ask us to leave reason or intellectual curiosity behind, but to seek the truth with courage, humility and an open heart.
Her feast day is celebrated on 25 November.
Chaplain
Fr. Augustinus Aerssens OP is the chaplain of the Roman Catholic Student Parish in Rotterdam. He is a Dominican friar and priest and has been serving the student community at the Eendrachtskapel since 2025.
As chaplain, Fr. Augustinus celebrates Mass and the sacraments, accompanies students in their life and faith, and is available for personal conversations, confession and spiritual guidance. He also leads catechesis and Bible study and helps organise the life of the student parish together with the community.
You are always welcome to approach him after Mass or to get in touch with him directly.
Eendrachtskapel
Just around the corner from the lively Witte de Withstraat, hidden between the buildings of the Eendrachtsstraat, you will find the Eendrachtskapel — the home of our student parish in Rotterdam.
Built in 1871, it is the oldest Roman Catholic church in Rotterdam still in use for Catholic worship. The chapel was originally built for the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, who kept watch before the Blessed Sacrament here day and night. That Eucharistic history still gives the Eendrachtskapel much of its character today.
In the middle of a busy and ever-changing city, the chapel remains what it has been for more than 150 years: a place for the celebration of the Eucharist, for prayer and silence, and for people to come together. Today, it is also the home of a young and international Catholic community.
After more than a century and a half, however, this historic chapel also needs our care. Important restoration and maintenance work is needed to preserve the Eendrachtskapel for the future. As the church itself must raise the funds needed for this work, we depend on the generosity of those who value this special place. Every contribution, large or small, helps us to keep its doors open for generations to come. You can make an online donation here.
Website of the foundation looking after the church building:
https://www.eendrachtskapel.nl/en/
Safe environment
We want St. Catherine of Alexandria to be a place where people can worship, meet and grow in faith in an environment marked by Christian charity, respect and safety.
Our values
Our life as a Catholic community has its centre in Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist, we are gathered into one Body and learn to recognise one another as brothers and sisters. The dignity of every human person, created in the image of God and called to communion with Him, therefore shapes the way we seek to live together.
We want our student parish to be a place of genuine welcome, friendship and conversion: a community in which we can grow in love of Christ and His Church, deepen our understanding of the Catholic faith, and learn to live that faith in our daily lives.
Christian charity requires us to treat one another with dignity, patience and respect, including when we disagree. Discrimination, intimidation, harassment, humiliation or other behaviour that violates the dignity or integrity of another person has no place in our community. Everyone who takes part in the life of St Catherine’s is asked to help build a community in which people can participate freely and safely.
Safeguarding
The Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands is committed to promoting and safeguarding a safe environment within the Church. This includes respect for the spiritual, psychological and physical integrity of every person.
Those engaged in pastoral ministry are bound by the Code of Pastoral Conduct of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The Code sets standards for responsible pastoral relationships, spiritual guidance, confidentiality, appropriate boundaries and the prevention of transgressive behaviour.
If you have experienced transgressive or inappropriate behaviour within the Roman Catholic Church, or if you have a concern, question or complaint, you can contact the R.C. Contact Point for Transgressive Behaviour (R.-K. Meldpunt Grensoverschrijdend Gedrag). You may also do so anonymously.
The contact officer is Ms Sigrid Klesser, LL.M. She will listen to your concerns, provide information about possible next steps and, if appropriate, help you find the right person or organisation. If you wish, she can also put you in contact with the confidential adviser of the Diocese of Rotterdam.
Ms Sigrid Klesser, LL.M.
R.K. Meldpunt Grensoverschrijdend Gedrag
Postbus 9769
3506 GT Utrecht
The Netherlands
E-mail: contact@rkmeldpunt.nl
Telephone: +31 (0)6 24 955 899
Ms Klesser is available by telephone on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to 17:00. Outside these hours, you can leave a voicemail or send an e-mail or letter and you will be contacted as soon as possible.
Privacy
We take the privacy of those who participate in the life of our community seriously. The Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands processes personal data in accordance with applicable European and Dutch data-protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR; in Dutch: AVG). The Dutch Roman Catholic Church has also established specific regulations and guidance for parishes concerning the responsible processing and protection of personal data.
Personal information entrusted to the parish is used only for legitimate pastoral, sacramental, administrative or organisational purposes and is handled with appropriate care.