Discover the cathedral of the north

Although people often say, “It’s not a cathedral,” the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Watervliet bears this nickname with a quiet pride and a nod to the Middle Ages. Located on the beautiful Stee River, the church evokes late Burgundian Flanders, when Habsburg Philip the Fair took the helm in Flanders and Hieronymus Lauwerijn was knighted as treasurer-general. His tombstone rests here, next to the monumental artwork “Nood Gods” by the Master of Frankfurt, a recognized masterpiece in Flanders.

This heritage route, developed by COMEET and the municipality of Sint-Laureins, guides visitors through this unique church in the heart of the polders. Those seeking further insight will find what they’re looking for in the East Flanders Province’s “Erfgoedsprokkel” about the church’s contents.

Tip: zoom in sufficiently on the map to navigate to the points!

📏 < 1 km
🕑 45 min