Pelt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Historic 280-kg bell from Het Herent Church, Pelt, was moved to Neerpelt’s St. Nicholas Church for the carillon. Carillonneur Jan Verheyen will debut it at the November 15, 2025, concert.
As VRT News reported, this morning, Oct 23, 2025, a historic bell was removed from the church tower of Het Herent in Pelt, in the province of Limburg. The church has 2 bells, and the smaller one, measuring 75 centimetres in diameter and weighing 280 kilograms, was carefully lifted by a large crane.
What will become of Het Herent’s 280-kg bell from Pelt in Neerpelt Carillon?
After the removal, the bell was transported to St. Nicholas’ Church in the centre of Neerpelt. There, it will be added to the church’s carillon, giving it a new role in the community. It’s a coincidence that the bell is in the correct pitch. It’s a C2 (a low C), but on the keyboard, it’s connected as an E flat,” explains carillonneur Jan Verheyen.
“I’m very curious to hear how it will sound.”
The Neerpelt carillon is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations, a bell from Het Herent Church will be officially inaugurated at the anniversary concert on November 15th, 2025. Descendants of the family who originally donated the bell to the parish of Het Herent will attend the event. Church officials said it is significant that the bell will remain in Pelt.
Officials mentioned that the future of Het Herent Church is still uncertain, as the building is planned to be demolished. It is not yet clear what will replace the church. The tower is expected to remain standing. The bell currently in the tower rings every day at noon.
Church bells in Belgium have undergone movements or restoration to conserve local heritage on multiple occasions. Many bells were acquired from churches during the First World War, including Leuven, and melted down for the making of ammunition. Recently, many historic bells have also been either restored or moved. The Mont des Arts carillon in Brussels underwent renovation for 6 months and reopened in 2025 with 24 bells and 12 statues.
