Galmaarden (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – St. Peter’s Church in Galmaarden, gutted by a 2009 firework blaze, is being rebuilt with €11m funding. Cost now €9m+, with sustainable features; tower opens 2025. Alderman Ludo Persoons leads the project.
As VRT News reported, St. Peter’s Church in Galmaarden, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, is being rebuilt after 16 years. The project will give the church a different role. The interior will be used as a library and as a market hall that can also host concerts and events.
Outside, the old cemetery and paved parking area will be removed. A“church garden” will be created to serve as a green space for markets and local activities. The new tower, designed with 4 openings leading to a viewing platform.
How is St. Peter’s Church in Galmaarden being rebuilt after the 2009 fire?
The renovation of St. Peter’s Church in Galmaarden now costs more than €9 million. This is around €3 million higher than first planned. The extra cost comes mainly from indexation caused by higher prices for materials and wages in the building sector. The municipality says this increase was expected and is included in the updated budget.
The project also includes new sustainable features. Heat pumps and solar panels will be installed. These additions add to the total cost but are designed to secure long-term savings and a lower ecological impact.
Work on the new tower is still in progress. The spire will only be placed in 2 weeks, as groundwork such as concrete pouring must first be completed. If all goes according to plan, the full renovation will be finished early next year.
Originally constructed in the 13th century, St. Peter’s Church in Galmaarden was given an additional church structure in the 15th and 16th centuries, making it a late Gothic monument. It has been the focal point for worshippers and residents for centuries. The church’s tower was also a landmark of Pajottegem historically.
The church survived wars and several smaller incidents, but on 1 January 2009, it was severely damaged when a stray firework caused a fire that destroyed much of the structure. The site remained empty for years until a subsidy of €11 million was granted by then-Minister of Heritage Matthias Diependaele (N-VA). With this funding, the works began in 2024.
“We want to make the church a tourist attraction, and the tower plays an important role in that,”
Says Alderman for Immovable Heritage Ludo Persoons (CD&V), who helped initiate the renovation project as then-mayor of Galmaarden.
