Wespelaar (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Children of De Pit preschool in Wespelaar, Haacht, returned on September 1, 2025, after 1.5 years in Maggie Shelters. Principal Kristel Vrolix led renovations preserving heritage features.
AS VRT News reported, the children of De Pit preschool in Wespelaar, Haacht, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, returned to their renovated school building today, Sep 1, 2025.
“It was cosy in the shelters, but this feels like coming home,”
says principal Kristel Vrolix.
How did De Pit Preschool in Wespelaar transform after a 1.5-year renovation?
The renovation completely changed the school’s interior. The building was stripped to its skeleton and rebuilt. Classrooms are now open. The many mezzanines that divided the space have been hidden, and the hallways are wider. Outside, new windows and a new front door were installed. The roof was also fully renovated.
The installation of new, custom-made doors was completed at the last stage.
“This was a complicated part because the building is listed,”
said Vrolix, one of the project coordinators.
“The school is part of Wespelaar’s protected village landscape,”
says Vrolix.
“For example, the renovated front door was made with the original ironwork, and the windows were also built according to the original design.”
The De Pit preschool school building in Wespelaar is a protected heritage site, which limited the changes that could be made to its exterior during renovations. In February 2024, the children began learning in large temporary “Maggie Shelters” while the renovation work started. These shelters are generally utilised in emergencies such as refugee camps and have complete facilities, including sanitary areas.
The renovation project consisted of removing the interior down to the skeleton of the building; replacing all custom doors; widening hallways; enclosing mezzanines; and replacing the exterior with new windows, a new front door, and a renovated roof. Work continued through August 2025 to ensure the building was ready for students on September 1, 2025.
