Dendermonde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bricks fell from a chimney at Dendermonde’s Sint-Alexiusbegijnhof, a UNESCO-listed site of 61 houses. Alderman Dirk Abbeloos oversees restoration plans, aided by a €2.4 million Flemish heritage subsidy.
As VRT News reported, bricks fell from a chimney at the Sint-Alexiusbegijnhof in Dendermonde on Tuesday, Sep 2, 2025, after strong winds loosened part of the masonry. The fire brigade was called to the scene, and the area around the house was cordoned off with police tape. Authorities warned that more bricks could still fall.
What is being done to restore Dendermonde’s 61-house UNESCO Beguinage?
The buildings are part of the UNESCO World Heritage list, and their preservation for the future has been of long-standing concern. The walls and chimneys continue to deteriorate while officials plan for renovation.
The Flemish Agency for Immovable Heritage granted a subsidy of 2.4 million euros last year for the restoration of the houses at the Sint-Alexiusbegijnhof in Dendermonde. The budget is to assist in repairing and conserving the old buildings.
Alderman for Heritage Dirk Abbeloos said a study has been launched to determine the future of the beguinage.
“It will look at what will happen to the site in the years ahead,” he said. “The study is almost finished. Progress may seem slow, but that is partly due to the available funding.”
The Sint-Alexiusbegijnhof in Dendermonde existed in the late 13th century, with the courtyard constructed in 1288. The beguinage consists of 61 houses and is part of 13 Flemish beguinages that were designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. Planning and negotiations for restoration have been underway since 2000, yet for years, not much progress was accomplished because of funding and planning issues.
