Chapel

On the corner of Wolverijstraat and Lampestraat is a beautiful brick field chapel in the shade of two linden trees. It is popularly called Vanhauwaertskapelle after the last occupant of the farm and keeper of the chapel Madeleine Van Hauwaert The original chapel was built together with the nearby farm in 1776. In 1889 the farm partially burned down. The original stone with the inscription "Lieve Vrouwe van Bijstand,1776" was removed from the chapel wall by a vandal in 1983 and has never been found again. The current owner Vandecasteele bought the chapel in 1988. During a refurbishment, the chapel was given a new door and the stolen bluestone was replaced by a new one with the inscription "Our Lady of Perpetual Help". Artist Julia Vandenbroucke made a new and original sculpture for the chapel. The chapel is now in the shade of a new summer lime. In 1988, a tree surgeon had taken care of the original linden from 1776. On Christmas night of 1999, the old lime tree was blown over in the storm. Fortunately, the tree came down next to the chapel. The owner placed a seating and resting bench at the chapel for passers-by. On May 20, 2007, a young man crashed his car into the chapel. The car was completely destroyed and the driver was killed. The statue of Our Lady remained intact. The owner rebuilt the chapel and since 8/8/2007 the sanctuary can be admired again in all its glory.

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