Discover Herkenrode Abbey in Hasselt and its incredible Clausura project, a monumental steel structure that brings a church lost 200 years ago back to life. Set to open in the spring of 2026, this transparent, breathtaking structure reimagines the former Gothic church destroyed by fire in 1826. A unique visual, artistic, and historical experience that’s a must-see in Belgium.
Galerie photos
Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Clausura: A Transparent Church Drawn in the Limburg Sky
After two centuries of absence, the spiritual heart of the former Cistercian abbey is coming back to life in a completely unexpected way. Conceived by the renowned artist duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh (already well known for the famous “transparent church” in Looz), the Clausura installation literally brings the vanished buildings back to life at their original scale and on their historic site.
The work uses a complex structure of thin steel rods to trace the outlines of the former Gothic church, the nuns’ quarters, and the former infirmary. Thanks to this interplay of airy, transparent lines, the architectural silhouettes blend poetically into the surrounding landscape. Depending on the viewer’s perspective, the metal lines appear, intersect, or vanish as if by magic into space.
The fascinating history of the wealthiest Cistercian nunnery in the Netherlands
Founded in the late 12th century, Herkenrode Abbey became, in the 13th century, the first and wealthiest Cistercian nunnery in the southern Netherlands. A true center of power and the official burial ground of the Counts of Looz, the estate endured through the centuries before experiencing a gradual decline.
The turning point in the monastery’s history came on October 28, 1594, with an initial fire, followed in 1826 by a devastating fire at the abbey church. This tragic event led to the gradual demolition of the original monastery, of which only the chapel and a few ruins remain today. It is this great historical void that the contemporary installation Clausura now fills with incredible precision.
The Sleutelroute: An Unusual Adventure for the Whole Family
The site is not limited to its artistic achievements. The opening of Clausura is accompanied by the launch of the Sleutelroute (the Key Route). This 1.5-kilometer trail connects the most mysterious and iconic spots on the estate.
Armed with a real key, you are invited to open the doors of the abbesses’ palace yourself and explore places that were previously inaccessible. A themed treasure hunt following the trail of a mysterious unicorn is also available to captivate children. Around the buildings, walking paths wind through 100 hectares of lush greenery bordering the De Wijers nature reserve and its 1,001 ponds.
