Chapel of Our Lady at the Beech Tree

There is a special history connected to the former chapel, now converted into a residence, as the veneration of Our Lady at this location dates back at least to the 15^th century.

At that time, along the old road Oudenaarde-Brussels, at the site known as Mariaveld, there hung a statue of Mary in a niche of an elm tree. Just like other residents from the area, the wife of Maximillian-Frans van der Meere, lord of Voorde, came here to express her distress. Stricken by an incurable illness, she promised to visit the statue daily for a whole year. She was healed, and her husband decided to build a chapel at that location...

In the year of our Lord 1660, he wrote a letter to the bishop of Mechelen, who granted permission a year later for the establishment of the chapel, which radiated a very great attraction: around 1688, four masses were celebrated weekly. But history also left its mark here: the popular pilgrimage site was closed during the French Revolution, and the centuries-old miraculous statue of Mary had to be hidden. It was brought out of hiding on July 2, 1804, amid great interest and transferred to the parish church of Voorde. The chapel was sold and had several owners during the 19^th and the first half of the 20^th century. By 1958, the chapel had deteriorated so much that the land was sold. The place of worship was thoroughly restored by the new owner. On July 2, 1961, the third centenary of the chapel was celebrated with great fanfare. Meanwhile, the chapel changed ownership once again. In 2011, the “Ecumenical Catholic Community of the Good Shepherd” briefly used the Beukenboom chapel. It soon became vacant again, and the chapel and surroundings fell into disrepair. A change of use to a residence provided relief for the protected monument. Inside, it was converted into a residence, while nothing may be changed about the appearance of the serene chapel from the outside.

Toerisme Ninove