A neo-Gothic pilgrimage church near Ghent, built to serve devotees drawn by reports of miraculous healing and a replica Lourdes grotto in the Flemish countryside.
At a glance
The Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes dominates Oostakker, a locality near Ghent in East Flanders. Completed in 1876 and consecrated the following year, it ranks as the most important centre of Marian pilgrimage in Flanders. The church was built to accommodate growing numbers of pilgrims visiting a grotto created on nearby château grounds.
History
In 1873 the Marquise of Courtebourne-de Nédonchel commissioned a grotto replicating the shrine at Lourdes in the gardens of her château at Slotendries. Word spread among residents of Ghent and surrounding villages, and pilgrims began requesting permission to visit and pray. A pivotal moment came in 1875 when a man named Pieter De Rudder was reported to have been miraculously healed of a compound fracture at the grotto.
The surge in pilgrims necessitated a permanent house of worship. A neo-Gothic church designed by E. Van Hoecke-Peeters, with modifications by J. B. Bethune, rose swiftly and was completed in 1876. Following consecration in 1877, the basilica was entrusted to the Jesuits, an order to which the late son of the Marquis had belonged.
What you see
The basilica exemplifies neo-Gothic style as interpreted in late-nineteenth-century Belgium. Among its notable features is a carillon of 49 bells housed in one of the towers. The bells were cast by the Michiels Foundries in the 1950s. The carillon’s keyboard was removed during renovation works in the 1970s and remains absent.
Cultural significance
The basilica embodies the widespread nineteenth-century veneration of Our Lady of Lourdes that followed reports of apparitions in France. Its prominence reflects Flanders’ deep Catholic tradition and the particular appeal of Marian pilgrimage in the Low Countries. The building itself stands as a testament to how private devotion—the Marquise’s grotto—evolved into institutional religious architecture.
Key facts
- Location: Oostakker, near Ghent, Belgium
- Completed: 1876; consecrated 1877
- Architectural style: Neo-Gothic
- Designers: E. Van Hoecke-Peeters and J. B. Bethune
- Carillon: 49 bells cast by Michiels Foundries, 1950s
- Coordinates: 51.0825, 3.76305556
Practical information & getting there
The basilica lies near Ghent and is accessible by regional transport. The site welcomes pilgrims and visitors year-round. For current visiting hours, services, and access details, consult local tourism information or the basilica’s official contacts.
Sources & resources
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