Around 850 a small chapel stood here. Two sisters built it to remember their brother. Centuries later in the 13th century a new church rose on this very spot. Legend speaks of workers finding their walls repeatedly toppled. Guardians discovered the Virgin Mary Saint Barbara and Saint Catherine. They had thrown down the walls. Mary revealed the church’s design. The main altar was to face south not east. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkapel is the only remaining part of that church. It’s the choir a sacred space.
The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekapel’s history is rich and layered. This remarkable chapel stands in the Laken cemetery. It’s a short distance northwest of the present-day Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk. This newer church replaced the original. King Leopold I built the new church. He buried his queen Louise Marie of Orléans here. She died in 1850. The king was also interred in the Saint Barbara chapel. This chapel is adjacent to the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk’s transept.
After the new church opened in 1872 the church authorities proposed keeping part of the old building. They wanted a chapel for catechism and to remember the old sanctuary. The Royal Commission for Monuments suggested saving the transept and even the tower. Only the choir survived. It received a neo-Gothic facade.
The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkapel stands as a testament to time. It reflects architectural styles from different eras. The 13th-century transept and choir showcase the transition from Romanesque to early Gothic. The 15th-century nave demonstrates Brabant Gothic architecture. Its round columns are a signature feature. The chapel has undergone numerous restorations. These restorations aimed to reconstruct the various building phases. This is why we see the blend of styles. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkapel is more than just stones and mortar. It is a living memory. A poignant reflection of faith resilience and the enduring legacy of Brussels.