A monastery, built by request of the late King Baudouin of Belgium, is to be demolished in the long term due to violation of environmental laws. “Rules are there for everyone, including the church or the king,” said the Flemish minister of the environment.
The Flemish minister of the environment, Zuhal Demir, has declared that the monastery of Notre-Dame du Fiat of the Sisters of Bethlehem in the village of Opgrimbie should be removed, despite attempts of the diocese to negotiate a compromise.
At the request of the late King Baudouin of Belgium, this monastery was built in the royal domain in Kempen Forest after he died in 1993. But it lies within Hoge Kempen National Park in Limburg, a natural reserve placed on a tentative list as UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011.
Despite the Diocese of Hasselt’s attempts at negotiating a land management plan, the branch of the Catholic Church has been denied.
“Rules are there for everyone, including the church or the king”
The diocese has had several disputes with the government of the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium regarding the concession of building permits.
The monastery’s building permits were revoked both in 1999 and 2009 by the government, and have received complaints against their permits. Although there were already protests against the construction of the monastery in 1995, it was built before the natural reserve opened in 2006.
The Diocese of Hasselt attempted to negotiate a compromise with the government, involving regulation of the monastery’s environmental landscaping and practices. The diocese also argued the predecessor to Demir was open to regulation, VRT News reported.
However, Ms. Demir has stated that no Regional Spatial Development Plan would be implemented to maintain the monastery, and that a removal plan is in the future for the building. She explained on X (ex-Twitter) that environmental laws apply to all equally, even the church or the king.
On Facebook, Minister Demir added that “allowing this illegal situation to exist via regulation goes against Christian values.”
According to Belgian media, she said she would meet with the sisterhood in light of the decision.
The origin of the sisters of Bethlehem occurred in 1950 when Pope Pius XII established the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, asserting she ascended to heaven. A group of French pilgrims began this sisterhood in adoration of the Virgin.
