St. Peter and Paul's Abbey

The Abbey of the Benedictines - dedicated to the HH. Peter and Paul - was founded in 1837 by D. Veremundus D'Haens, a resident of Dendermonde, and one of the last surviving monks of the ancient abbey of Affligem in Brabant. He settled with his first novice in the former convent of the Capuchins (1595-1797), which he purchased from the Poor Board.

In 1857 the Dendermonde Abbey was united with the Benedictine Congregation of Subiaco or of the older maintenance of which it now forms the Belgian province, together with the abbeys of Affligem and Steenbrugge, in Belgium, and the missionary abbey of Pieterburg in Northern Transvaal.
In the year 1886, the interior of the monastery was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style; In 1891 a large library was added. A few years later, in 1900, the old Capuchin church, which had become too small, was demolished and replaced by the current church, in Gothic style, according to the plans of master builder August Van Assche (1901-1902 the new church was built).

In 1914 the abbey, like most of the city, was destroyed by a war fire. All the abbey buildings were reduced to rubble; Only the library, built as 'fireproof', was able to escape the destructive fire. The beautiful abbey museum (three rooms) was destroyed with all its precious antiquities. Only a few old paintings and the silverware (St. Bernard's staff, montrans, chalices, etc.) originating from Oud-Affligem were spared. The spires and roof of the church perished, but the strong vault resisted, so that the church building was preserved. However, part of the choir stalls caught fire, along with the sacristy.

In 1919 a start was made on repairing the church and building a new abbey, wider and grander, in the Flemish Renaissance style, according to the plans of the Ghent master builder Valentin Vaerwijck. The first two wings were inaugurated in 1924. The other two, together with the beautiful front building, were completed later.

The stained-glass windows of the base were painted by Camille Ganton, of Ghent. The high altar, with alabaster altarpiece, the altar and the statue of Saint Benedict, the pulpit and the choir stalls were sculpted by the Roman sculptor of Ghent.
The choir stalls, partially destroyed in September 1914, were restored in 1930.
The Stations of the Cross are by Alois De Beule (Zele). The two beautiful altars, at the entrance of the choir, with a brass altarpiece driven by Firlefijn (Ghent), are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Blessed Sacrament Altar) and to Our Lady of Affligem.

In 1939, the abbey church was elevated to the dignity of a basilica. The basilical insignia (conopaeum and bell) adorn either side of the high altar, while a memorial stone, at the back of the church, commemorates this elevation.

The new abbey buildings, in Flemish Renaissance style, were built according to the traditional plan of the Benedictine abbeys: four large wings with the monastery building and the conventual rooms (library, refectory, recreation hall, etc.) around a courtyard. These buildings, in rose-red brick, with decorations, window and door frames, vault ribs, etc., in white stone, offer a beautiful and artful view, of high architectural value. The art lover will discover many a moody corner.

Stichting Open Kerken