The Koekelberg Basilica: The Beauty Of Brussels

Straddled across the Brussels neighbourhoods of Koekelberg and Ganshoren, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is an enormous building with a tower that can be seen across the Brussels skyline. Of the innumerable churches across Belgium, the Basilica is noteworthy for its history, its beauty and the importance it still holds today.

Building history

In the 19th century, inspired by the Sorbonne district in Paris, King Leopold II wanted to turn Koekelberg into a “royal district”. This district, of course, needed its own religious building. Due to the lack of support from the Belgian people, he gave up on the project at that time, but he still wanted to see his Basilica become a reality.
In the 20th century, Leopold II finally laid down the first stone of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. By the time the Basilica was finished 64 years later, the project had been in the hands of three different architects, survived two world wars and changed style drastically.
While architect Pierre Langerock wanted it to become a neo-Gothic church, the plans were altered after his death due to a lack of finances. Architect Albert Van Huffel made it an Art Deco-style building instead. After Van Huffel passed away, the project was left in the hands of his colleague Paul Rome. In 1969, the large green dome was set on top of the tower, and the Basilica was declared finished.
The tallest tower is about 89m (292ft) high – the view from the top is spectacular. The diameter of the dome is 33m (108ft), while the nave is 107m (351ft) wide and 141m (463ft) long.

Exploring theology through art

The museums in the Basilica showcase religion by looking back at the past and sketching out the future. The Black Sisters Museum and the Modern Religious Art Museum both have an extensive and fascinating collection that inspires reflection on religion, its goals and its representation.
But while the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a religious building that hosts Catholic celebrations, it also has several attractions that have little to nothing to do with religion, such as exhibitions, a theatre and a restaurant. The building also has vacant rooms that you can rent for events. And besides all this, the Basilica is a well-loved Art Deco monument.

The best of Belgium and the world

Not only is the Basilica the third biggest cathedral in Belgium, but it also ranks as one of the world’s largest churches and is the largest Art Deco-style building in the world. While it was nearly a century in the making, the Basilica is now a part of the cultural life of Brussels.

About the author

Ayla Sileghem

Ayla is a 20-something Belgian with roots in other places. She teaches Japanese, writes pieces in English and is always open for a change. Raised in Kenya, she picked up English at a young age and still prefers writing in English instead of Dutch. She studied Japanese at the Catholic University of Leuven and did a Master’s degree in Journalism at the Catholic University of Brussels. Ayla also spent some time in Japan, at Fukuoka Women’s University. She loves reading about history, and only remembers the funny facts. Her family includes a boyfriend who does the cooking and a rabbit that loves watching the Wizard of Oz.