Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Kristel Van den Boom restored pianist René Vandeplas’s piano-shaped grave in Leuven, replacing about 400 mosaic tiles, overcoming illness, and receiving praise from Alderman Bieke Verlinden.
As VRT News reported, in Leuven, the piano-shaped gravestone of pianist René Vandeplas has been restored. Kristel shared photos of the renovated gravestone on the Facebook page Goed nieuws in Leuven (Good News from Leuven). The post received many positive responses from the local community.
The restoration also drew attention from Alderman Bieke Verlinden. In a letter to Kristel, Verlinden wrote:
“I am deeply impressed by all you have accomplished, despite your own illness and rehabilitation. The photos show not only the beautiful result, but also the heartfelt story behind it. You have not only saved a piece of heritage and memory, but also sparked a wave of solidarity and appreciation.”
Who restored René Vandeplas’s piano-shaped grave in Leuven?
René Vandeplas was a well-known pianist in Leuven who died in 1965. Kristel Van den Boom noticed the grave as a child during visits to the cemetery on All Saints’ Day. She remembered its unique piano design. Over time, the gravestone fell into poor condition.
Kristel tried to contact Vandeplas’s relatives but was unsuccessful. She then received official permission to restore the grave herself. She started by working on the bluestone base but had to pause the project after becoming seriously ill.
After recovering, Kristel resumed the restoration 2 months ago. She cleaned the gravestone, repaired the mosaic tiles, and removed the moss. Her work restored the piano design to its original state.
“It turned out that about 400 mosaic tiles were missing, so I went by bus or bike to tile companies that could help me. A tile company in Bierbeek was willing to provide the tiles for free; the owners only wanted some advertising in return,”
Kristel said.
Kristel Van den Boom faced physical challenges at work. She explained that she does not always have feeling in her fingers because of medical problems.
“I often had to stop glueing the tiles and massage my fingers before I could continue,”
she said. Despite these difficulties, she continued the project.
