Sint-Laurentiuskerk

Sint-Laurentiuskerk is the parish church of Sint-Laureins-Berchem, a village now part of the municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw in Flemish Brabant, standing on Sint-Laureinsstraat. Behind its gothic façade lies a history stretching back to a medieval manor chapel, layered with centuries of rebuilding and legend.

How did this site begin?

The origins trace back to a manor chapel whose rights passed in 1164 to the Abbey of Affligem, together with the rights to the nearby chapel of Oudenaken. Before that, the parish of Sint-Laureins-Berchem may have belonged to the estates of Ghent's Sint-Baafs Abbey. Local tradition adds a colorful layer: a wooden chapel supposedly consecrated as early as the 5th century by Saint Remigius, said to have been struck by lightning before an early Romanesque church rose in its place.

What survived the religious conflicts of the 16th century?

During the religious turmoil at the end of the 16th century, the church was largely destroyed. Only the stair towers survived the destruction, making them the oldest surviving fabric of the building today — physical remnants of a structure that predates the current gothic church by centuries.

Where does the present gothic church come from?

The gothic Sint-Laurentiuskerk visible today dates from the 15th century. It was expanded in stages over the following centuries: a side aisle was added in the 17th century, an entrance portal followed in the 18th century, and another side aisle was built in the early 20th century. The result is a building where medieval stonework sits alongside later additions, each period leaving its own mark on the structure.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes. Sint-Laurentiuskerk was listed as a protected monument by Royal Decree of 20 February 1939. The protection covers the building as a whole, including its oldest surviving elements — the stair towers that predate the gothic rebuilding.

Why is it worth a visit?

Sint-Laurentiuskerk is more than a place of worship — it is a tangible record of local history, from its legendary origins through the destruction of the religious wars to a gradual, multi-century expansion. For anyone exploring Sint-Pieters-Leeuw and the surrounding area of Flemish Brabant, it offers a compact example of how a small rural parish church can accumulate architectural layers — gothic, baroque-era additions, and early 20th-century extensions — within a single structure.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Sint-Laurentiuskerk located? The church stands on Sint-Laureinsstraat in Sint-Laureins-Berchem, a village that belongs to the municipality of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw in the province of Flemish Brabant.

How old is the church? The current gothic structure dates from the 15th century, though the site's history goes back much further, to a medieval manor chapel and a legendary 5th-century origin.

What remains from before the 16th-century destruction? Only the stair towers of the earlier, early Romanesque church survived the religious conflicts of the late 16th century; the rest of the building was destroyed.

Is the church a listed heritage site? Yes, it has been protected as a monument by Royal Decree since 20 February 1939.

What was added to the church over the centuries? A side aisle in the 17th century, an entrance portal in the 18th century, and a second side aisle in the early 20th century.