Neder-Over-Heembeek

On the outskirts of medieval Brussels, a small village thrived, known as Heembeek. Neder-Over-Heembeek’s story began with a modest church at its heart. This church became the center of the parish. As the hamlet grew, a second church emerged in the north. This led to the division of the parishes and the birth of two distinct villages: Over-Heembeek (“Upper Heembeek”) and Neder-Over-Heembeek (“Lower Heembeek”). Over-Heembeek encompassed the Church of St. Nicholas in the north. Neder-Over-Heembeek included the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in the south. Both parishes eventually came under the ownership of Dieleghem Abbey in 1112 and 1155, respectively. Neder-Over-Heembeek wasn’t just a village. It played a role in shaping scientific history. Around 1618, a curious incident occurred on a farm near the church. Jan van Helmont, a local medic and follower of Paracelsus, lived there. One evening, a mysterious stranger visited van Helmont. They discussed alchemy late into the night. Upon leaving, the stranger gifted van Helmont a peculiar powder. Van Helmont mixed it with mercury, heated the concoction, and astonishingly produced gold. This encounter sparked van Helmont’s interest in scientific processes. He became a pioneer of modern chemistry. Years later, in 1843, the same farm housed Count Gioacchino Pecci, the future Pope Leo XIII. He showed great interest in exploring the property. The two villages, Lower and Upper Heembeek, merged in 1814. This formed a single parish and municipality. The name Neder-Over-Heembeek preserved the identities of the two original parishes. Later, in 1921, Neder-Over-Heembeek, along with Haren and Laken, became part of the City of Brussels. Today, Neder-Over-Heembeek stands as a predominantly industrial zone in Brussels. It houses the Queen Astrid Military Hospital, the National Burns and Poisons Centre. The area also offers glimpses into its rich past. You can still find the Church of St. Nicholas in Upper Heembeek and the Romanesque tower of the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Lower Heembeek.