Tienen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Flanders is investing €700,000 in restoring the 14th-century Church of Our Lady of the Pool in Tienen, announced by Minister Ben Weyts, to fix stability issues and preserve the landmark.
As VRT News reported, the Flemish government is investing €700,000 in the urgent restoration of the Church of Our Lady of the Pool in Tienen. The announcement was made by Flemish Minister of Immovable Heritage Ben Weyts (N-VA) during a visit to the historic site on the Grote Markt.
They mentioned that the restoration will address ongoing stability problems and include major repairs to the roof, facades, and stained-glass windows. The total project cost is estimated at €1.3 million, with Flanders covering more than half. Local authorities say the works are essential to protect both the structure and its cultural value.
“Anyone who sees this impressive Gothic church in Tienen is immediately transported to an early chapter in the history of Flanders,”
says Minister Wets.
“We want to preserve this magnificent church and are therefore urgently releasing a significant amount of funding. This way, this church can shine in all its glory for decades to come, and the story of Tienen can continue to be told for generations to come.”
What will Flanders’ €700K restoration do for Tienen’s historic church?
According to Alderman for Heritage Gijsbrecht Huts (N-VA), the project represents more than just a technical repair.
“With the restoration of the Church of Our Lady of the Pool, we are not only restoring the stones, but also the heart of our city,”
he said. The church tower has long been a defining feature of Tienen’s skyline, visible from afar to anyone approaching the city. He mentioned that the restoration aims to preserve this landmark for future generations while ensuring the building remains safe and accessible to the public.
The Gothic church, located on the Grote Markt, dates back to the 14th century and is one of the city’s best-known landmarks. It was first designed by Jean d’Oisy, a French architect who helped introduce the Brabantine Gothic style to the region.
The structure includes a 3-bay choir, a 7-sided apse, and a large central tower that has long defined the skyline. Construction was later completed by Jacob van Tienen and Sulpitius van Vorst, who also worked on Leuven’s Town Hall. In the 17th century, the church tower received a Baroque onion-shaped spire.
In recent years, the building has developed serious stability problems, particularly in the choir and side chapels. Cracks have appeared in the stonework, and parts of the structure have become unsafe. After a storm in 2008, several stones fell, prompting concerns about the church’s condition.
Leave a Reply