The historical development of Opstal

The historical development of Opstal

On the maps of Ferraris (1771 – 1778) we already find the name ‘Opstaelt’, but with very little habitation. The name Opstal etymologically refers to a heath area and derives its name from one of the first residential cores at the Opstalse Dries (referring to common grazing land). The first mention of ‘Opstaldriesch’ dates from 1450 (Ter Palen 16 jg – nov 91 – p.27 P Servaes). In Opstal, there was a second residential core at the Hof ter Koppen. Not coincidentally, both residential areas were located at the intersection of various trade routes. It was only with the construction of the church in 1907 that the current center moved between the two former residential cores.

Opstal as part of the Land of Grimbergen

In the Middle Ages, Buggenhout (excluding Opdorp) was part of the Brabantian Land of Grimbergen, while Lebbeke and Opwijk were part of the Flemish Land of Dendermonde. However, it was the case that from 1292 the territory in Buggenhout was divided between two branches of the family of the lords of Grimbergen. What would later become Buggenhout-Centrum was lent to foreign lords and would be known as Buggenhout-Bournonville. Opstal and the very important port of den Ouden Briel remained directly owned by the lords of Grimbergen and would be known as Buggenhout-Grimbergen. Since the parish was formed before the split into two branches, the parish unity was maintained and Opstal had been parish-wise assigned to Buggenhout-Centrum all those centuries. The Buggenhout-Grimbergen branch made many donations to the women's abbey Zwijveke in Dendermonde, but this did not really benefit the development of Opstal.

When the independent parish of Opstal was formed in 1905, the medieval delineation between the Centrum and Opstal was largely followed.

Church, Monastery, and School

Ultimately, at the beginning of the 20^th century, Opstal received what it was entitled to: its own rectory and parish church (1908), monastery, and school (1907). The main initiator of all this was the first pastor, Jules Andries (who was later honored as a street was named after him). The parish church was designed by Sint-Lucas architect Henri Valcke (1871-1951) from Ledeberg near Ghent in 1906. The roof of the church building was restored in 1956 by architect Bressers. The rectory and the monastery were initially walled in. The monastery, connected to a girls' school, was completed in early 1907 and was funded by the monastic community of Saint Vincent from Buggenhout.

The stained glass windows in the choir date from 1961-1965 and were made by C. Los. The church building has been protected since 2002.

Jurgen Vermeulen