Dendermonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The local authorities and people in Schoonaarde, a town in the municipality of Dendermonde, are now facing the effects of burglary in the parish hall associated with the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van 7 Weeën and Sint-Jozef parish. As reported by the local criminal reports, “Burglars make mess in parish hall in Schoonaarde” – a problem that is raising concerns about the security of such religious and community buildings in the area.
Although the specific date and time of the break-in were not reported in any sources available to the general public, it can be seen from the wording of the police and media reports that there was forced entry into the building resulting in destruction of some property, the theft being unclear in the light of the publicly available information, as it is unknown whether any items were stolen or merely destroyed as part of the act of vandalism.
How significant is this incident for Schoonaarde?
The burglary of a church hall for a small village like Schoonaarde is not only a theft, but it has more impact on a place which serves as a social focal point in the community. Flemish church halls are normally used for various activities such as catechism lessons, charity events, club activities, and family functions. Any damage to the doors, windows, and interior can disrupt and hinder planned activities in the village.
The psychological impact is also notable.
“When a place like this is targeted, people start to feel unsafe even in spaces that should be the most familiar,”
a local community worker in a similar Flemish village said after a comparable break‑in, reflecting a sentiment likely to resonate in Schoonaarde. Parish volunteers and staff, who often manage these buildings with limited resources, must now consider additional security measures, from reinforced locks to alarm systems, adding financial and administrative pressure.
Is this an isolated event in Schoonaarde?
The information currently available indicates that the burglary at the parish hall of the Schoonaarde is not just a strange coincidence but rather fits into the wider pattern of events concerning the break-ins into church and parish properties in Dendermonde and the area. Specifically, in May 2026, local media outlets informed the public about “multiple church burglaries in Dendermonde within a short period” with burglars stealing from several churches in the city.
In at least one such incident, copper rain pipes were stolen from a church in the city of Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde. Even before the incident at the parish hall, there have been events in Schoonaarde related to church property. For example, in May 2025, brushes and vegetation behind the church at the Schoonaardebaan caught fire; local media outlets suggested that this arson was deliberately provoked.
What similar incidents have occurred in Flanders recently?
Schoonaarde is just one instance within a broader phenomenon of burglaries and vandalism of churches and parish buildings in Flanders in the years 2025 and 2026. Thus, in August 2026, the sacristy of Sint-Niklaaskerk in Liedekerke was robbed, resulting in theft of the pastor’s personal liturgical things – his chalice, paten, and ampullae. Pastor openly called upon the thieves to return the items, stressing their significance rather than any monetary gain and saying,
“Just bring them back.”
In March 2026, in turn, Andreaskerk in Velden (Limburg) was burgled, and the thieves stole several church attributes and liturgical equipment. In August 2026, the old kindergarten located adjacent to the church and parish center in Geetbets became the target of several robberies and vandalism, with one window being destroyed by axe and interiors trashed; the kindergarten kept materials for parish activities, so this burglary resembled burglary of parish halls with damage. As far back as 2007, for example, offering box was stolen from Sint-Laurentiuskerk over a weekend.
