01 April - 31 October
Mon 8.00 - 18.00
Tue 8.00 - 18.00
Wed 8.00 - 18.00
Thu 8.00 - 18.00
Fri 8.00 - 18.00
Sat 8.00 - 18.00
Sun 8.00 - 18.00
01 November - 31 March
Mon 8.00 - 17.00
Tue 8.00 - 17.00
Wed 8.00 - 17.00
Thu 8.00 - 17.00
Fri 8.00 - 17.00
Sat 8.00 - 17.00
Sun 8.00 - 17.00
Panorama
Summer : 9 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. (last ticket at 5 p.m.)
Winter : 10 - 16.30 (last ticket at 16h)
Admission fees : 8 € per person (6 € per person for groups of min 6 pers).
Modern Religious Art Museum
01/04 - 31/10 : Wed - Thurs - Fri - Sun : 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
01/11 - 31/03 : Fri & Sun : 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Guide: annemiegh@gmail.com of +32 475 966 566 (10 days in advance).
Museum Black Sisters
Summer : every wednesday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment
The museum is closed in winter.
Full information on the panorama and museums: website of the basilica - info@basilicakoekelberg.be
In Dutch, French or English: info@basilicakoekelberg.be or +32 2 421 16 60.
Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Saturday : 9 am (FR)
Wednesday : 8.15 am (FR) • 9 am (NL)
Sunday : 9 am (FR) • 10 am (FR) • 11.30 am (NL)
See the updated timetable on the website of our partner Egliseinfo
The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart Koekelberg is one of the most important and imposing churches in Brussels. Its dimensions (164m long,107m wide, 93m high) puts it 5th on the list of biggest churches in the world. It is also the biggest art deco building in western Europe, built on a plateau and thus visible from far around.
The idea for a grand national basilica came from king Leopold II, inspired by the church of Montmantre in Paris, France. Construction started in 1905, was interrupted by world war I and was finished in 1970. Cardinal Mercier proclaimed the basilica a National Monument of the Peace.
The structure is reinforced concrete, covered by stone or glazed terracotta tiles. The interior provides an open view of the nave and side chapels, stained glass windows donated by catholic organisations and families from around the world.
Panorama : at a height of 52,80m, right under the dome of the Basilica, an external gallery allows you to discover a breath-taking view of Brussels and Brabant. On a clear day one can see as far as Mechelen Cathedral and the 'Plan Incliné' of Ronquières.
Koekelberg Basilica houses the Museum of Modern Religious Art in the domed gallery on the 3rd floor. There is an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures by artists for whom religion and spirituality have often been an important source of inspiration....
A new 2016 visitors guide book is available in Dutch, French and English.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
After the rejection of the Langerock project after World War I (due to the high production costs), the architect Albert Van huffel (Ghent 1877-Tervuren 1935) was asked to design the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Due to his modest origin, Albert Van huffel combined his studies of Expressive Arts in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent out of necessity with an education in several practical skills. Afterwards, he settled as an independent architect and decorator. From 1918 till 1925, he was artistic director of the company “l’Art Décoratif Céline Dangotte” in Brussels. He was also head of the ornament course at the Higher Institute for Decorative Art in Brussels.
The early work of Van huffel was eclectic, but in the 1920s there was an important evolution. Simplicity and geometry had become the most important characteristics of his work. Van huffel is looking for a coherent, functional and beautiful aesthetic, in which furniture, decoration and architecture are integrated.
In 1921, his first project for the basilica was ready. With his scale model (1/40) of the basilica he won the Grand Prix for Architecture at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. You can still see the model in the basilica. After the death of Albert Van huffel in 1935, his assistant and successor, engineer-architect Paul Rome, continued the project. He changed hardly anything to the design. He only made a few technical improvements and some modifications at the cupola.