St. Lambertus Church

The Sint-Lambertuskerk is a church building in Ekeren near the Belgian city of Antwerp. The church is located on the Ekerse Markt. About 150 meters northwest of the church stands the Hagelkruis Ekeren. In the 10th century, the first church was probably built here by Count Ansfried. In 1251, the church was first mentioned. It was built on a corner of a populated peninsula that belonged to the Diocese of Liège. Therefore, a Liège saint was also chosen. In 1492, it was struck by a fire. The church was enlarged several times, including in 1504-1506. Between 1623 and 1648, it was set up as a fort, and an earthen rampart was built around it. This disappeared in 1648. In 1683, the church was almost completely destroyed by a severe fire, except for the masonry of the tower. A new nave was built in 1696, with the roof completed in 1697. The transept was built in 1687-1698. In 1693, the tower and the choir were raised and received a flat roof. In 1910, the enclosed cemetery around the church was cleared and moved to the Schriek district. A number of tombstones and the family crypt of the Plantin-Moretus family were preserved. In 1911, the church tower received a spire.

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