Berlaar (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Geothermal drilling has begun at Berlaar’s former monastery site, with 31 boreholes powering nearly energy-neutral apartments. Mayor Walter Horemans highlights heritage preservation and sustainable housing as key project goals.
As VRT News reported, Geothermal drilling has started at the former monastery site in the centre of Berlaar, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. The project includes the installation of a Borehole Energy Storage (BEO) field, which will utilise the ground to store energy. The boreholes are placed under the new residential building and the underground parking garage.
How will Berlaar’s former Monastery become sustainable housing?
According to project leader Thomas Antonissen, the new system will bring clear benefits for future residents. Heating costs will be reduced, and the apartments will be nearly energy-neutral. In total, 31 boreholes are being drilled at the site. The work is planned to last about 3 weeks, with 2 wells completed on average each day.
“This project will be a huge asset in the centre for Berlaar and its residents.”
Walter Horemans (CD&V), mayor
Mayor Walter Horemans explained that the redevelopment of the former monastery site in Berlaar has been in preparation for more than 10 years. He said the project required many discussions before the work could start. The focus of those talks was not only on the construction of new apartments but also on the preservation of the historic setting.
“The atmosphere and the view will now be preserved. This may make the apartments a bit more expensive, but for Berlaar and its residents, this project will be a huge asset in the city centre.”
Horemans said.
The monastery site in Berlaar has been vacant since 2011, when the last religious community left the building. In the years that followed, several proposals for redevelopment were discussed but often delayed due to concerns about heritage preservation and financial feasibility.
Formal plans for a mixed residential project were approved by the municipal council in 2021 after extensive consultation with residents and heritage experts. The current works, which began in 2024 with geothermal drilling and site preparation, mark the first concrete step in transforming the historic location into a sustainable housing project.
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