Convent Van Maerlant
Encyclopedia
The Convent Van Maerlant is a former convent
which consists of a church and a chapel
on Rue Van Maerlantstraat in Brussels
(Belgium
).
In 1905, a compulsory purchase order for land for the Central railway station was made on the Rue des Sols, and this included the Brussels convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, the chief Eucharistic Order started in 1844 by the daughter of the Chairman and founder of the Société Générale. The original chapel was built in 1435 in the authority of a Papal Bull
, and was renovated in the 1780s: the convent itself was converted from a Ducal town house in the early 1850s. As a result, a very similar building was needed, and built, in the early 1900s: the chapel was virtually identical to the original, which survived for another 45 years, only finally being demolished in 1955. Falling vocations meant the convent was closed in the early 1980s and after standing derelict for nearly 20 years, the convent was acquired to become the central library of the European Commission
. This is the only pre-Second World War building to be left standing in the area after the entry of European institutions
.
construction, though the rebuilt version of the early 1900s lacks the tower, side isles, stone decorations, rose window
and pinnacles of the original.
The chapel, a duplicate of the 15th and 18th Century original, was completely renovated in the 1990s, losing almost all its original internal features. It is neo-classical
, with Doric columns
, pediment and friezes. The stain glass windows were painted by Thomas Reinhold of Vienna
. They were produced by the factory of the Schlierbach convent in Upper Austria and financed by nine Austrian regions to cover five biblical themes.
, the Directorate-General for Education and Culture
and the Brussels Office for Infrastructure and Logistics
(the Commissions historical archives service). The chapel is used as a local chapel and for dialogue between Christian groups in Europe.
It is located in areas known as the European Quarter
and the Leopold Quarter
. The neighbouring building to the south, built in the late 1980s and also housing Commission offices, is of unusually high quality, out of a desire to help it fit in with its neighbouring gothic church. Its height was also restricted to that of the convent.
Further to the south is Leopold Park
and the Espace Léopold
complex of the European Parliament
and the buildings of the Committee of the Regions
and Economic and Social Committee
. To the east is a car park and Jean Rey Square
and to the north is the Justus Lipsius building
of the Council of the European Union
), who became the Sisters of the Eucharist
in 1969, was founded by Anna de Meeûs, the eldest child of the Belgian Finance Minister Count Frederic de Meeûs. The original foundation was set up in 1844 in workshops belonging to the Church of Our Lady on the Zavel (Notre-Dame on the Sablon). The sisterhood rapidly outgrew its location. In 1848 the foundress' childhood friend the Baroness d'Hoogvorst (née Countess of Mercy-Argenteau) bought the building, originally the Town House of the Counts of Salazar, on the Rue des Sols/Stuiversstraat from the Visiting Sisters. The Sisters took up residence in 1850 and, with the original chapel soon too small, they rebuilt the neighbouring wing of the house as a modern red neo-gothic church. The chapel was built in 1435 on the corner of Rue des Douze Apôtres/Twaalfapostelenstraat where the first Brussels synagogue stood until the Jews were evicted in a pogrom
in 1370 – the Papal Bull establishes the Eucharistic vocation as an expiation of the Host desecration
.
The entire neighbourhood was acquired by the State in 1907 as part of a project to connect the North and South railway termini. The convent lay on the site of the planned Rue Courbe (now Rue Ravesteinstraat) which was designed by Henri Maquet to link the Royal Palace of Brussels with the centre. The convent buildings were bought by the city and served as a gym for the local primary school. Later, the church became a depot the Brussels' electric and road works department and the chapel housed a local garage owner. In 1955 they were all demolished in order to build the Galerie Ravenstein.
Such development was blocked as the site was reserved for the Council of the European Union
who had to put the area over to housing. Public authorities pushed for its restoration and the developers eventually agreed and in 1996 it was fully renovated with a central atrium over the cloister, but the original features all still present. It is now occupied by the European Commission
. The side chapel was also restored with sponsorship and was re-inaugurated the "Chapel of the Resurrection
", or the "Chapel for Europe" on 25 September 2001.
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
which consists of a church and a chapel
Chapel of the Resurrection, Brussels
The Chapel of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic church with an ecumenical vocation located in the heart of the Brussels' European Quarter of Brussels , next to the former Convent Van Maerlant...
on Rue Van Maerlantstraat in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
).
In 1905, a compulsory purchase order for land for the Central railway station was made on the Rue des Sols, and this included the Brussels convent of the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, the chief Eucharistic Order started in 1844 by the daughter of the Chairman and founder of the Société Générale. The original chapel was built in 1435 in the authority of a Papal Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
, and was renovated in the 1780s: the convent itself was converted from a Ducal town house in the early 1850s. As a result, a very similar building was needed, and built, in the early 1900s: the chapel was virtually identical to the original, which survived for another 45 years, only finally being demolished in 1955. Falling vocations meant the convent was closed in the early 1980s and after standing derelict for nearly 20 years, the convent was acquired to become the central library of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. This is the only pre-Second World War building to be left standing in the area after the entry of European institutions
Institutions of the European Union
The European Union is governed by seven institutions. Article 13 of Treaty on European Union lists them in the following order: the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European...
.
Architecture
The church is a 19th century red brick neo-gothicGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
construction, though the rebuilt version of the early 1900s lacks the tower, side isles, stone decorations, rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
and pinnacles of the original.
The chapel, a duplicate of the 15th and 18th Century original, was completely renovated in the 1990s, losing almost all its original internal features. It is neo-classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, with Doric columns
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
, pediment and friezes. The stain glass windows were painted by Thomas Reinhold of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. They were produced by the factory of the Schlierbach convent in Upper Austria and financed by nine Austrian regions to cover five biblical themes.
Area and usage
The church serves as the central library of the European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, the Directorate-General for Education and Culture
Directorate-General for Education and Culture (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for Education and Culture is a Directorate-General of the European Commission.The Education and Culture Directorate-General’s mission has three main aspects:* Building a Europe of knowledge...
and the Brussels Office for Infrastructure and Logistics
Office of Infrastructure and Logistics (European Commission)
The Office of Infrastructure and Logistics is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The Office for Infrastructure and Logistics, Brussels and the Office of Infrastructure and Logistics, Luxembourg were created according to a Commission decision of November 6, 2002.-Office for...
(the Commissions historical archives service). The chapel is used as a local chapel and for dialogue between Christian groups in Europe.
It is located in areas known as the European Quarter
Brussels and the European Union
Brussels is considered to be the de facto capital of the European Union, having a long history of hosting the institutions of the European Union within its European Quarter...
and the Leopold Quarter
Leopold Quarter
The Leopold Quarter is a quarter of Brussels, Belgium. Today the term is sometimes confused with European Quarter, as the area has come to be dominated by the institutions of the European Union and organisations dealing with them, although the two terms are not in fact the same, with the Leopold...
. The neighbouring building to the south, built in the late 1980s and also housing Commission offices, is of unusually high quality, out of a desire to help it fit in with its neighbouring gothic church. Its height was also restricted to that of the convent.
Further to the south is Leopold Park
Leopold Park
Parc Léopold or Leopoldspark is a public park located within the Leopold Quarter of Brussels, adjacent to the Paul-Henri Spaak building, the seat of the European Parliament....
and the Espace Léopold
Espace Léopold
The Espace Léopold or is the complex of parliament buildings in Brussels housing the European Parliament, a legislative chamber of the European Union ....
complex of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
and the buildings of the Committee of the Regions
Committee of the Regions
The Committee of the Regions is European Union's assembly of local and regional representatives that provides sub-national authorities with a direct voice within the EU's institutional framework....
and Economic and Social Committee
Economic and Social Committee
The European Economic and Social Committee is a body of the European Union established in 1958. It is a consultative assembly composed of employers , employees and representatives of various other interests...
. To the east is a car park and Jean Rey Square
Jean Rey Square
Jean Rey Square is a square in the European Quarter of Brussels inaugurated in 2001.-Design and location:...
and to the north is the Justus Lipsius building
Justus Lipsius building
The Justus Lipsius building is a building in Brussels that has been the headquarters of the Council of the European Union since 1995. Unlike the European Parliament, visiting is restricted...
of the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
First church
The Dames de l'Adoration perpétuelle (Sisters of Perpetual AdorationTabernacle Societies
The Tabernacle Societies were lay Eucharistic Adorative associations within Roman Catholic parishes, principally in America and Australia, forming part of the ArchiAssociation of the Eucharist under the guidance of the Association of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.-Ecclesiastical...
), who became the Sisters of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
in 1969, was founded by Anna de Meeûs, the eldest child of the Belgian Finance Minister Count Frederic de Meeûs. The original foundation was set up in 1844 in workshops belonging to the Church of Our Lady on the Zavel (Notre-Dame on the Sablon). The sisterhood rapidly outgrew its location. In 1848 the foundress' childhood friend the Baroness d'Hoogvorst (née Countess of Mercy-Argenteau) bought the building, originally the Town House of the Counts of Salazar, on the Rue des Sols/Stuiversstraat from the Visiting Sisters. The Sisters took up residence in 1850 and, with the original chapel soon too small, they rebuilt the neighbouring wing of the house as a modern red neo-gothic church. The chapel was built in 1435 on the corner of Rue des Douze Apôtres/Twaalfapostelenstraat where the first Brussels synagogue stood until the Jews were evicted in a pogrom
Pogrom
A pogrom is a form of violent riot, a mob attack directed against a minority group, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes and properties, businesses, and religious centres...
in 1370 – the Papal Bull establishes the Eucharistic vocation as an expiation of the Host desecration
Host desecration
Host desecration is a form of sacrilege in Christianity involving the mistreatment or malicious use of a consecrated host— the sacred bread used in the Eucharistic service or Mass...
.
The entire neighbourhood was acquired by the State in 1907 as part of a project to connect the North and South railway termini. The convent lay on the site of the planned Rue Courbe (now Rue Ravesteinstraat) which was designed by Henri Maquet to link the Royal Palace of Brussels with the centre. The convent buildings were bought by the city and served as a gym for the local primary school. Later, the church became a depot the Brussels' electric and road works department and the chapel housed a local garage owner. In 1955 they were all demolished in order to build the Galerie Ravenstein.
New building
However, when the Dames left, they moved to the Maalbeek vally and, missing their old convent, copied the church and chapel (known as the Salazar from the Spanish noble family who built the adjoining mansion which would in due course become the main convent building) in an identical style – though lacking some features due to monetary constraints. However, after time they were unable to manage and left in 1974. The building deteriorated while developers argued, with one wishing to build seven nine-story office blocks on its site.Such development was blocked as the site was reserved for the Council of the European Union
Council of the European Union
The Council of the European Union is the institution in the legislature of the European Union representing the executives of member states, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The Council is composed of twenty-seven national ministers...
who had to put the area over to housing. Public authorities pushed for its restoration and the developers eventually agreed and in 1996 it was fully renovated with a central atrium over the cloister, but the original features all still present. It is now occupied by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. The side chapel was also restored with sponsorship and was re-inaugurated the "Chapel of the Resurrection
Chapel of the Resurrection, Brussels
The Chapel of the Resurrection is a Roman Catholic church with an ecumenical vocation located in the heart of the Brussels' European Quarter of Brussels , next to the former Convent Van Maerlant...
", or the "Chapel for Europe" on 25 September 2001.