During the long occupation by the Spanish, the Protestants were expelled in the 17th century. As a result, Hulst is a Roman Catholic city with a basilica. Construction of the Saint Willibrord Basilica began in 1200 and it took until 1534 before it was finished. But Hulst was often a war zone and it changed religions from time to time: from 1645 to 1807 it was Protestant. From 1807 to 1929 it was even half Protestant and the other half Catholic, separated by a wall. Since 1929 it has been a full Catholic church. A thorough restoration at the end of the last century restored this basilica to its former glory. But the tower is somewhat special.
During the Second World War, in 1944, the upper tower was destroyed and replaced by what you see now. Visitors have different opinions about the beauty of the tower, but everyone completely agrees about the interior: a beautiful openness. The choir with stained glass windows from the early 19th century depict the life of Saint Willibrord and the history of the church. The church also has a beautiful and unique French-Flemish organ from the early 17th century. In 2009, this church was declared 'The most beautiful church in the Netherlands'.