A 17th- and 18th-century Carmelite friary in the center of Ghent, where the Discalced Carmelites settled in 1653; the wings date from 1664-1687 and the Baroque church from 1703-1714. Friars still live here as a community, and the church is open to visitors.
What it needs
The 'Patersgang', the private wing where the friars live, is outdated and its electrical installation was recently condemned. The friars want to turn the old cells into nine modern rooms with their own sanitation so the house can receive novices and theology students. They are raising 800,000 euros through a heritage account managed by Herita.
Before you act. The Herita page shows no end date and no running total. The campaign opened in April 2025 and was still taking gifts when checked.
The basilica has never had a major renovation: its 3,500 m² of roofs carry slates nearly 150 years old, and the cornices, downpipes and zinc and lead work are worn out, with damp and cracks reported. The monks' 'Basilique 2030' project restores the whole exterior (134,000 slates to replace, 6,000 m² of façade) before a later interior phase. Donations go through a dedicated King Baudouin Foundation fund or a 5-euro 'sponsor a slate' page.
The shrinking community is regrouping its living quarters around the cloister: the sisters' rooms, chapter room and library are being renovated, the church made smaller, the shop enlarged and a heat pump, roof insulation and solar panels installed. The renewed church reopened in August 2026; the guesthouse (18 rooms per VRT) closes from 1 November 2026 and is due to reopen early in 2028. Gifts go through a dedicated Herita heritage project, with Belgian tax certificates from EUR 40.
