Sint-Martinuskerk

Sint-Martinuskerk is a historic parish church in Everberg, a village that forms part of the municipality of Kortenberg in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Standing on the village square, the building combines Romanesque, Gothic and Neo-Gothic elements from several successive building phases stretching from the 13th to the 19th century.

How old is the church?

The oldest surviving part of the building is the square limestone tower, whose lower section dates back to around 1200 and still shows clear Romanesque characteristics. This confirms that a place of worship stood here long before the church took on its present appearance.

How did the building grow over time?

In the 14th century a late Gothic choir, reinforced with typical Brabantine buttresses, was added to the Romanesque tower. The same period also saw the construction of the northern transept, which houses the Our Lady chapel. The church therefore grew in layers over the centuries, and this gradual expansion is still visible in the variety of architectural styles on display.

Who controlled the church in the Middle Ages?

According to the historian Verbesselt, the church of Everberg was held during the early Middle Ages by local feudal lords, who transferred it in 1112 to the Hospital of Leuven. Until the French Revolution, the Leuven Hospital retained the rights of patronage and tithe collection over the parish.

Why was the church almost entirely rebuilt in the 19th century?

By the 19th century the building had fallen into a disastrous state of disrepair. Rescue came from the de Merode family: Countess Louis de Merode, sister-in-law of Count Amaury de Merode, made 71,000 Belgian francs available in 1881 to fund a thorough restoration. The work was carried out under the direction of architects Hendrik Beyaert and Paul Hankar, and the largely Neo-Gothic new church was completed in 1893.

Where does the name "Saint Ludovicus" come from?

In 1890, Cardinal Goossens approved adding the name of Saint Ludovicus to the church's dedication. This was done in recognition of the de Merode family's financial contribution to the restoration and as a tribute to Count Louis de Merode, whose generosity had made the rescue of the building possible.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes. In 1994 the church of Everberg was officially recognised as a protected monument of Belgium's immovable cultural heritage, a status that safeguards its historic fabric from further alteration.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? Sint-Martinuskerk stands on the village square of Everberg, a sub-municipality of Kortenberg in the province of Flemish Brabant in central Belgium.

What architectural style does the building represent? It is a mixed structure combining Romanesque elements (the base of the tower), Gothic and late Gothic features (the choir and transept), and Neo-Gothic additions from the late 19th century (the main and side naves).

Why does the church carry a double dedication? Originally dedicated to Saint Martin, the church received the additional dedication to Saint Ludovicus in 1890, in memory of Count Louis de Merode and his family's support for the restoration.

Who held patronage rights over the church historically? From 1112 until the French Revolution, the rights of patronage and tithe collection belonged to the Hospital of Leuven.