List of carillons in Belgium

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An ornate stone brick bell tower
The tower of St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen contains two large, 49-bell carillons

Carillons, musical instruments of bells in the percussion family, are found throughout Belgium. Several institutions maintain registries on the location and statistics of carillons. Some registries specialize in counting specific types of carillons. For example, the War Memorial and Peace Carillons registry counts instruments which serve as war memorials or were built in the name of promoting world peace (and tracks five in Belgium);[1] the World Carillon Federation [nl] counts carillons throughout the country, along with the rest of the world.

Two Belgian carillon associations  the Flemish Carillon Association and the Walloon Carillon Association  count carillons in their respective regions. According to their registries, there are 94 carillons in Belgium: 70 in the Flemish Region, 22 in the Walloon Region, and 2 in the Brussels Capital Region. They are distributed across 77 different cities; several are located within the same city, and two are even within the same building  at St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen. The population has a wide range in total weights, with bourdons spanning between 30 and 8,180 kilograms (66 and 18,034 lb). They also span a wide range of notes, from 21 (which the Flemish association considers a carillon despite failing its definition that requires at least 23[2]) up to 64. Many carillons were constructed over several centuries by several bellfounders; a minority are constructed entirely by a single bellfounder. The majority of carillons are transposing instruments, and often transpose such that the lowest note on the keyboard is B or C.

According to the World Carillon Federation [nl], the carillons in Belgium account for 14 percent of the world's total[3] and is consequently considered one of the "great carillon countries" along with the Netherlands and the United States.[4]

Despite not being a part of their respective regions, both the Flemish Carillon Association and the Walloon Carillon Association track the number of carillons located in the Brussels Capital Region, of which there are two. The larger both in terms of weight and number of bells is located at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. The smaller is located at the Palace of the Nation, Belgium's federal parliament building. Constructed in the 20th century, these carillons are much newer relative to others in the country.[5][6] Brussels once had nine carillons in 1541; none survived past 1914.[7]

List of carillons in Brussels
Location City Bells Bourdon weight Total weight Range and
transposition
Bellfounder(s) Ref.
kg lb kg lb
Palace of the Nation Brussels 37 254560 1,3532,983
Up 12 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 1985–88 [6][8]
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula 49 3,1646,975 15,79734,826
None (concert pitch)
Royal Eijsbouts 1958–75 [6][9]

Flanders

The Flemish Carillon Association maintains a registry of carillons in the Flemish Region. According to the organization, there are 70 carillons located in Flanders. They are distributed across 56 different cities; several are located within the same city, and two are even within the same building  at St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen.[2] The carillons have a wide range in total weights, with bourdons spanning between 39 and 8,180 kilograms (86 and 18,034 lb). They also span a wide range of notes, from 21 (which the association considers a carillon despite failing its definition that requires at least 23[2]) up to 64. Many carillons were constructed over several centuries by several bellfounders; a minority are constructed entirely by a single bellfounder. The majority of carillons are transposing instruments, and often transpose such that the lowest note on the keyboard is B or C.[5]

List of carillons in Flanders
Location City Bells Bourdon weight Total weight Range and
transposition
Bellfounder(s) Ref.
kg lb kg lb
Schepenhuis Aalst 52 6281,385 3,8278,437
Up 12 semitones
Lokeren 1958 [10][7]
Aarschot Peace Carillon [nl]
Church of Our Lady [nl; fr]
Aarschot 51 5,34711,788
Up 5 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 2018 [11][12]
[13][14]
Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp 49 4,96310,942 27,64860,953
Down 3 semitones
[15][7]
St. Catherine's Church [nl] 47 250550 1,8204,010
Up 12 semitones
[16]
District House of Borgerhout [nl] 47 1,0562,328 5,53112,194
Up 5 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 1977 [17]
St. Martin's Church [nl]
(Open-air carillon)
37 270600 1,8083,986
Up 12 semitones
Petit & Fritsen 1968 [18]
Belfry of Bruges Bruges 47 5,38111,863 27,53560,704
Down 5 semitones
[19][7]
Damme City Hall [nl] Damme 39 143315 1,1682,575
Up 16 semitones
[20]
Church of Our Lady [nl] Deinze 48 7841,728 4,4179,738
Up 7 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 1988–94 [21]
Belfry of Dendermonde [nl; fr] Dendermonde 49 1,2252,701 6,80015,000
Up 5 semitones
[22][23]
Saint Aldegondis Church 21 3986 381840
Up 24 semitones
[24]
Church of Saint-Sulpice [nl; fr] Diest 47 5921,305 3,1907,030
Up 8 semitones
[25][7]
Belfry of Diksmuide [nl] Diksmuide 30 160350 1,1002,400
Up 16 semitones
Michiels 1935 [26]
St. Martin's Church [nl] Genk 52 2,3395,157 11,57725,523
Up 2 semitones
Petit & Fritsen 1960 [27]
St Bartholomew's Church [nl] Geraardsbergen 49 1,8004,000 8,78719,372
Up 3 semitones
[28]
Belfry of Ghent Ghent 54 6,05013,340 30,12966,423
Down 3 semitones
[29][7]
Basilica of Saint Servatius [nl] Grimbergen 49 1,2842,831 7,01715,470
Up 5 semitones
[30]
Saint Gorik Church [nl] Haaltert 44 1,8964,180 5,43511,982
Up 16 semitones
Michiels 1946–60 [31]
Basilica of Saint Martin [nl; fr] Halle 54 3,5007,700 12,90028,400
Up 7 semitones
  • De Leenknecht van Harelbeke 1390
  • Walterus 1480
  • Waghevens 1518
  • Van Aerschodt 1849
  • Michaux 1920–21
  • Sergeys [fr] 1972–73
[32]
St. Salvator Church [nl] Harelbeke 50 1,8004,000 7,17915,827
Up 7 semitones
Michiels 1959 [33]
St. Quentin Cathedral Hasselt 53 3,1757,000 10,98024,210
Up 4 semitones
[34][7][35]
Vernimmen Garden Herent 28 200440 1,1002,400 Van Aerschodt 1912–14 [36]
Belfry of Herentals [nl; fr] Herentals 49 4851,069 2,8836,356
Up 1 semitone
[37][7]
Schepenhuis [nl] Herzele 28 272600 1,6603,660
Up 12 semitones
Horacantus 1952 [38]
St Catherine's Church [nl] Hoogstraten 50 1,8234,019 11,77725,964
Up 3 semitones
  • Hemony 1654–55
  • Michiels 1954–59
[39]
St. Hilonius Church [nl] Izegem 47 2,1094,650 10,06422,187
Up 1 semitone
  • Slegers-Causard 1921
  • Michiels 1923–60
[40]
Belfry of Kortrijk Kortrijk 48 310680 1,9454,288
Up 11 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 1994 [41][7]
Saint Martin's Church 49 5,06011,160 18,49040,760
None (concert pitch)
[42]
Saint Martin's Church [nl] Lede 24 54119 8001,800
Up 12 semitones
Michiels 1952–55 [43]
Saint Gertrude's Abbey [nl] Leuven 49 3,7508,270 15,06133,204
Up 1 semitone
[44][7]
St. Peter's Church 49 4,2809,440 17,50038,600
Up 1 semitone
[45][7]
Academic libraries in Leuven 63 7,09615,644 35,34977,931
Down 4 semitones
[46][47]
Park Abbey 40 2,1324,700 10,61623,404
Up 1 semitone
Royal Eijsbouts 2018 [48][49]
Church of St. John the Baptist 45 189417 1,3332,939
Up 14 semitones
[50]
Saint Gummarus Church [nl; fr] Lier 52 7,63816,839 19,78143,610
Down 2 semitones
[51][7]
Saint Laurentius Church [nl] Lokeren 49 3,6608,070 16,79037,020 Horacantus 1955–56 [52]
Church of Saint Peter-in-Chains [nl] Lommel 63 3,2637,194 15,49334,156
None (concert pitch)
[53]
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
(Old carillon)
Mechelen 49 8,00018,000 36,00079,000
Down 4 semitones
[54][7]
St. Rumbold's Cathedral
(New carillon)
49 8,18018,030 39,24486,518
Down 5 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 1981 [55]
Church of Our Lady-across-the-Dyle [nl; fr] 50 2,2174,888 9,12320,113
Up 5 semitones
[56][57]
Court of Busleyden [nl; fr] 49 420930 2,5415,602
Up 12 semitones
Michiels 1953 [58][59]
St. Martin's Church Meise 56 9051,995 4,61510,174
Up 7 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 2001 [60]
Belfry of Menen [nl] Menen 49 7701,700 4,76410,503
Up 7 semitones
[61]
Saints Peter und Paul Church [nl] Mol 49 3,2407,140 16,50436,385
None (concert pitch)
[62][63]
Postel Abbey 49 382842 2,1874,822
Up 12 semitones
[64][65]
Church of Saint Peter-in-Chains Nederbrakel 49 1,9964,400 9,64521,264
Up 3 semitones
[66]
Church of Our Lady [nl] Nieuwpoort 67[a] 1,4073,102 8,97619,789
Up 5 semitones
Michiels 1952 [67][68]
Festivities and Culture Palace [nl] Ostend 49 2,4975,505 12,39327,322
Up 2 semitones
Paccard 1964 [69]
St. Walburga Church [nl] Oudenaarde 49 3,2307,120 15,50034,200
None (concert pitch)
Petit & Fritsen 1967 [70]
St. Trudo Church [nl] Peer 64 3,7058,168 17,23437,994
None (concert pitch)
Petit & Fritsen 1951–99 [71]
Saint Nicholas Church [nl] Pelt 48 1,0602,340 3,5647,857
Up 9 semitones
[72][73]
St. Bertin's Church [nl] Poperinge 47 8001,800 4,3809,660
[74]
Saint Peter's Church Puurs 50 5051,113 3,8908,580 (Range not available)
Up 9 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 2017 [75][76]
Saint Michael's Church [nl] Roeselare 49 8901,960 5,15411,363
Up 7 semitones
[77][78]
Saint Hermes' Church [nl] Ronse 49 2,3555,192 12,21126,921
[79]
Basilica of Our Lady Scherpenheuvel-Zichem 49 2,8126,199 13,20029,100
[80]
Sint-Niklaas City Hall [nl] Sint-Niklaas 49 8501,870 5,20011,500
[81]
Belfry of Sint-Truiden [nl; fr] Sint-Truiden 50 1,8004,000 6,00013,000
[82][7]
Basilica of Our Lady of Kortenbos [nl; fr] 27 2,3655,214 5,25211,579 Michiels 1947–53 [83]
Saint Rumolds Church [nl] Steenokkerzeel 49 1,4163,122 7,18515,840
[84]
Temse City Hall [nl] Temse 38 5091,122 3,0766,781
[85]
Belfry of Tielt [nl; fr] Tielt 35 105231 8311,832
Up 9 semitones
Dumery [fr] 1772–1827 [86][7][87]
Saint Germain's Church [nl; fr] Tienen 54 1,5293,371 7,07115,589
[88][7]
Basilica of Our Lady Tongeren 49 1,5933,512 10,38422,893 (Range not available)
Up 2 semitones
[89][7][90]
Saint Peter's Church [nl] Turnhout 50 1,1052,436 4,3259,535
[91][7]
Saint Nicholas Church [nl] Veurne 48 1,7943,955 9,18520,249 Michiels 1955–60 [92]
Saint Amand's Church [nl] Wingene 49 7381,627 4,1899,235
Up 8 semitones
[93][94]
Ypres Cloth Hall Ypres 49 2,4945,498 11,89226,217
Up 2 semitones
[95][96]
Church of Our Lady of the Ascension [nl] Zottegem 49 1,3382,950 6,82815,053
Up 3 semitones
[97][98]
St. Leonard's Church Zoutleeuw 39 140310 1,2252,701 Horacantus 1963 [99]

Wallonia

The Walloon Carillon Association maintains a registry of carillons in the Walloon Region. According to the organization, there are 22 carillons located in Wallonia. They are distributed across 20 different cities; three are within the same city  Liège. The carillons have a wide range in total weights, with bourdons spanning between 30 and 4,070 kilograms (66 and 8,973 lb). They also span a wide range of notes, from 25 up to 55. Many carillons were constructed over several centuries by several bellfounders; a minority are constructed entirely by a single bellfounder. The majority of carillons are transposing instruments, and often transpose such that the lowest note on the keyboard is B or C.[6]

List of carillons in Wallonia
Location City Bells Bourdon weight Total weight Range and
transposition
Bellfounder(s) Ref.
kg lb kg lb
St. Julian's Church [fr; nl] Ath 49 4,0708,970 11,05324,368
Up 4 semitones
[100]
St. Gaugericus' Church [fr] Braine-le-Comte 47 8051,775 4,3709,630
Up 6 semitones
Petit & Fritsen 1967 [101]
Belfry of Charleroi [nl] Charleroi 47 3,0006,600
Up 12 semitones
Michiels 1936 [6]
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul [nl] Chimay 26 3066
Up 26 semitones
Dumery [fr] 1755–63 [6]
Notre Dame de Dinant Dinant 50 260570 1,9514,301
Up 24 semitones
Royal Eijsbouts 2008–14 [6][102]
St. Nicolas Church [nl] Enghien 51 2,7506,060
Up 5 semitones
[6]
Church of the Ascension Florenville 49 7651,687
Up 10 semitones
Michiels 1955 [6]
Belfry of Gembloux [fr; nl] Gembloux 50 5601,230
Up 10 semitones
[6]
Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Huy [fr; nl] Huy 49
Up 6 semitones
[6][7]
St. Joseph's Church La Louvière 47 300660
Up 24 semitones
Michiels 1957–58 [6]
Liège Cathedral Liège 49 4,58110,099
Up 15 semitones
[6][7]
Church of Saint John the Evangelist 34 5701,260
[6]
Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew 50 380840 (Range not available)
Up 10 semitones
Vanden Gheyn 1774 [6][103]
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul [nl] Malmedy 40 400880
Up 10 semitones
[6]
Belfry of Mons Mons 49 5,50012,100
Down 3 semitones
[6][7]
St Aubin's Cathedral Namur 47 2,6005,700
Up 14 semitones
[6][7]
Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude Nivelles 47 3,2007,100
Down 3 semitones
[6]
Collegiate Church of St. Vincent [fr; nl] Soignies 47[b] 9672,132
Up 14 semitones
Petit & Fritsen 1963–64 [6]
Belfry of Thuin Thuin 25 335739
Up 23 semitones
  • Slegers-Causard 1936
  • Michiels 1939
  • Voegelé 2003–04
[6]
Belfry of Tournai Tournai 55 5,00011,000
Up 12 semitones
[6][7]
Church of Our Lady of the Récollets [fr; nl] Verviers 40 5951,312
Up 20 semitones
Michiels 1937 [6]
Saint John the Baptist Church, Wavre [fr] Wavre 50 1,8204,010
Up 19 semitones
[6][104]

See also

Notes

References

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