The Romanesque tower and transept date from the 12th century. remaining parts.
The three-aisled nave was rebuilt in 1658-1660 after a fire started by French soldiers. The polygonal choir was added in 1679.
During the First World War (4 August 1917), the Maria Jacobus bell was removed from the tower and taken by the Germans on 7 August. At the end of the war, the Germans converted the church into a field hospital. The church building was evacuated on 19 July 1918. The furniture was moved to a flax factory in Priester Coulonstraat. The flax factory served as an emergency church from July to November 1918. The evacuation caused considerable damage to the furniture, walls and paintings. The church was also damaged by English and German shells in September 1918 during the evacuation and withdrawal of the Germans. On 20 March 1939, the Rekkem St Nicholas Church was classified as a monument. This turned out to be a blessing for the church. After the Second World War, the Rekkem municipal council decided in December 1946 to restore the church building. Work on the roof started on 15 October 1947. From 29 November 1947, church services were celebrated in the patronage hall (in the Moeskroenstraat) as an emergency church. Restoration work on the church building started on 10 December 1947. In 1950, the church tower was restored and a new sacristy was built.
Source: Wikipedia