Saint Martin's church

Saint Martin's Church stands right in the centre of Overijse, next to the old Brussels–Namur road at the spot once notorious for its sharp S curve. The protected late Gothic building is constructed in sandstone on a cross-shaped plan, and its tower still holds a Romanesque core dating back to the twelfth century — the oldest surviving part of the whole structure.

How old is the church, and where does its name come from?

The earliest written mention of the church dates to 1141, in a document issued by Duke Godfrey III of Brabant. Much suggests, however, that a place of worship already existed here earlier, probably between the 8th and 9th centuries. Saint Martin of Tours as patron is typical of churches founded around the year 800, which points to a very old parish origin even before the first surviving records.

Why does the interior feel so different from the church's Gothic shell?

The building's history is largely a story of two devastating fires. The first broke out on 8 March 1489, set by the troops of Maximilian I of Austria; it reportedly claimed 300 lives and destroyed much of the church, with the choir rebuilt in its aftermath. A second fire, in the seventeenth century (1692), consumed the entire centre of Overijse and damaged whatever had survived the first disaster. The restoration that followed, carried out through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, gave the interior its Baroque character — the barrel vault above the nave, a product of this post-fire rebuilding, was only completed in 1719. As a result, the church's medieval Gothic skeleton now carries a noticeably later Baroque interior.

What can visitors see inside?

Beneath the choir lies the burial vault of the princely Horne family; a tombstone in the choir leads down to this crypt, and the family's genealogy, along with its ties to the Belgian royal house, is explained in the sacristy. The church also holds the tombstone of Maria Lips, sister of the humanist Justus Lipsius, who was born in Overijse in 1547.

Behind the main altar, stained glass windows by J.B. Capronnier, dating from 1881, illustrate scenes from the legend of Saint Martin, the church's patron saint.

Why does the church's location matter?

The church's position beside the historic sharp bend on the old Brussels–Namur road is no coincidence — for centuries this spot served as a landmark along an important route connecting the two cities, underlining how central the building was to local life.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Saint Martin's Church in Overijse? The earliest record dates to 1141, though the dedication suggests a place of worship existed as early as the 8th–9th century. The tower's Romanesque core dates from the twelfth century.

Why was the church rebuilt twice? Because of two major fires — one in 1489, set by the troops of Maximilian I, and a second in 1692 that destroyed the centre of Overijse.

What lies beneath the choir? The burial vault of the Horne family, a princely family with ties to the Belgian royal house.

Who was Maria Lips? The sister of humanist Justus Lipsius, buried in the church, born in Overijse in 1547.