The Tower Spire of Diegem: A Rare Stone Masterpiece
At the heart of the old village of Diegem, near Brussels, stands a remarkable church tower crowned by a unique stone spire. Unlike most spires of its time, which were made of wood and covered with slate, Diegem’s spire was constructed entirely in stone—a decision that required extraordinary time, patience, and craftsmanship.
For twenty years, skilled stonemasons worked meticulously on the spire, which eventually became an outstanding example of Brabantine Baroque architecture, almost folkloric in character. Its layered structure, carefully filled with stone rubble, ensured exceptional durability. The local stonemasons, renowned for their expertise, used the region’s hard, white natural stone, the same material employed in notable buildings such as Ter Elst Castle.
During World War II, the spire faced destruction. In 1943, the German authorities deemed it an obstruction to flight operations at the nearby Melsbroek airfield and ordered its demolition. Thanks to heritage authorities, the spire was carefully dismantled instead. Each of the approximately 5,000 stones, weighing a total of 230 tons, was numbered, photographed, and lowered systematically. The dismantling took thirty days and cost 135,000 francs—a modest sum considering the scale of the operation.
Eight years later, on April 2, 1951, reconstruction began under architect De Groodt and the same contractor. The work was completed on October 14, 1951, at a cost of 732,000 francs. Alongside the restoration, several improvements were made: a wooden spiral staircase was replaced with a concrete one, and a new tower clock was installed. Following tradition, the gilded weathercock was carried through the village before being placed atop the spire, where it now rotates on two glass marbles.
Today, the people of Diegem can take pride in this rare stone spire, often compared in shape to a Chinese pagoda. Its historical and artistic value has earned the church the status of a protected monument—a testament to the village’s rich heritage and exceptional craftsmanship.
