Martyr, opponent of Calvinism, born Gorkum, Holland, 1534; died Briel, 1572. He studied at Bois-le-Duc, where he took the habit of Saint Francis. After his ordination, 1558, he began his mission of converting the Calvinists. He evangelized the principal towns of Belgium and Holland, and was appointed superior of the monastery at Gorkum. When the Calvinists captured that town, Nicholas was a special object of their hatred. He was hanged by the neck till half dead and then dropped to the ground repeatedly until the cord broke; his torturers then applied a burning torch to his ears, forehead, chin, tongue, and palate. Unable to make him apostatize, they removed him to Briel where he was put to death with 18 companions. Canonized, 1867. Relics chiefly at Briel. Feast, July 9,.