Schilde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Schilde municipality, led by Mayor Dirk Bauwens (N-VA), halted renovations at the Scheut Fathers’ mission house. Fedasil continues work; the inspector has 8 days to decide on permits amid protests.

As VRT News reported, the municipality of Schilde, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, has ordered a stop to construction at the former mission house of the Scheut Fathers. Inspectors found that workers were carrying out major renovations without any valid permit. The changes included enlarging the building and increasing its overall volume.

A fire escape was also added to the outside of the building. Mayor Dirk Bauwens (N-VA) said the work had not been approved. He stressed that any structural changes to historic buildings must follow strict rules.

What is happening at Schilde’s Scheut Fathers’ mission house amid protests?

Officials will review the construction and determine the legal steps needed to restore compliance. The mission house is considered an important landmark in the community. Preservation experts say any renovation must protect the building’s historical character. At the same time, safety standards must be respected.

“Both the municipality and the intermunicipal company Igean confirmed this, and a report was drawn up. Nevertheless, Fedasil decided to continue the work. I then asked the police to seal the building,”

says Mayor Dirk Bauwens (N-VA).

The regional urban planning inspector has 8 days to decide on the construction work at the site. Mayor Dirk Bauwens (N-VA) said that if the inspector rules that the work cannot continue, the developers must first apply for an environmental permit.

The new asylum centre has sparked protests in the municipality for several months. Residents have expressed concerns about the change in the building’s function. The municipality previously filed a formal complaint, arguing that the building’s use should not be altered without permission.

That complaint is scheduled to be heard tomorrow, Jan 4, 2025. The municipality also asked to postpone the centre’s opening, which is still planned for later this month, but that request was rejected.

The colonel’s house formerly occupied the mission house of the Paters van Scheut in Schilde. The house is a large property of historical significance to the Catholic missionary order, through which the Scheut Fathers provided missionary services in many countries around the world.

However, due to declining membership in their religious order, the Scheut Fathers vacated the property at the end of 2024. In May of 2025, the owners of the site reached out to Fedasil to advise them that the site would be available to be used as a temporary asylum reception centre and would replace the current asylum reception centre in Deurne, which was scheduled for closure on December 31, 2025.

This announcement drew widespread outcry from the local community throughout the spring and summer of 2025. The town of Deurne also submitted its objections to Fedasil formally on June 3, 2025. A lease agreement between the owners of the property and Fedasil was completed on September 1, 2025.