Can you hear echoes of laughter amidst the brick and stone? This is Collège Saint-Pierre a place of learning and growth since 1905. Cardinal Goossens had the vision to found this institution. The Collège Saint-Pierre started small. Just 60 students were welcomed in its first year.
The Collège Saint-Pierre has seen many changes. In 1978 it merged with the school of the Servites de Marie. Soon after the Collège Saint-Pierre became a co-educational institution. Boys and girls learned together. By 1990 the student body had grown significantly. It reached a total of 2700 students across all sections.
Let’s talk about its expansion. The initial buildings of Collège Saint-Pierre went up between 1904 and 1908. Architect Ant. Podevain designed them in the Neo-Gothic style. The style aimed to embody Christian values. The Collège Saint-Pierre acquired adjacent buildings. These buildings had a neoclassical style.
Did you know the Collège Saint-Pierre has both French and Dutch-speaking sections? A Dutch section Sint-Pietersgesticht started in 1937. The school continued to grow. New buildings were added to the campus. These extensions reached Rue Jean-Baptiste Verbeyst and Boulevard de Smet de Naeyer. Architect Maurice De Graeve expanded the building in 1927. A. Casteels designed another building in 1935.
The Collège Saint-Pierre didn’t stop growing after World War II. In 1948 architect Ravestijn created a new entrance. It faced Boulevard de Smet de Naeyer. The entrance was an ogival portico. Around 1985 some buildings were remodeled. They took on a postmodernist style. The Collège Saint-Pierre acquired another building in 1985.
Several abbots and teachers resisted the German occupation. Abbé Paul Le Roux and Abbé Victor De Sloover were executed in 1944. The city honored them by naming streets after them.
Many notable people attended Collège Saint-Pierre. These include historian Fleury De Lannoy and artist Félix De Boeck. Also politician Jean-Charles Snoy et d’Oppuers. Writer Patrick Roegiers and actress Natacha Régnier. Also singer Typh Barrow.
The students of Collège Saint-Pierre perform plays each year. They perform in the school’s theater. Students and teachers collaborate on all aspects of the production. This includes set design and staging. Students performed Romeo & Juliette in the school year 2023-2024.
The Collège Saint-Pierre stands as a testament to education. It represents community and enduring values. It embodies a commitment to shaping young minds. This school has shaped countless lives over the decades. Its legacy is etched in its halls.