ErfgoedLab Antwerpen is publishing two new City Chronicles (Stadskronieken) exploring the history of Freemasonry in Antwerp and the transformation of a former monastery into a meeting place for diverse communities. The books, combining historical research, interviews and photographs, will be launched on 24 and 28 October 2026.
The publications are part of a project through which residents and organisations document the history and heritage of Antwerp and its districts in their own words.
Freemasonry behind the cathedral
‘The Chain: 50 Years of Freemasonry in the Shadow of the Cathedral‘ (‘De Keten. 50 Jaar vrijmetselarij in de schaduw van de kathedraal‘) marks the 50th anniversary of non-profit organisation De Keten.
The book offers a glimpse inside the historic building at Reyndersstraat 43, known to members as ‘The 43‘ (‘Den 43‘), which houses five Freemason lodges. It traces the building’s history through photographs and historical research, while exploring its significance for Antwerp’s Masonic community.
The publication aims to make Freemasonry more accessible to the public and highlight the building’s heritage. It also takes readers on a tour of the premises, revealing details of a site that remains largely hidden from view.
The book will be launched on Saturday 24 October at 14:00 at Reyndersstraat 43, 2000 Antwerp.
A former monastery brings communities together
The second chronicle, ‘Between City and Silence: Encounters around the Genius Loci of the Brabantse Olijfberg‘ (‘Tussen stad en stilte. Ontmoetingen rond de genius loci van de Brabantse Olijfberg‘), explores the history and atmosphere of a former 17th-century Annunciade monastery on Lange Winkelstraat, in Antwerp’s university district.
The site has since become a meeting place for communities and organisations from diverse backgrounds. The book brings together personal stories, interviews and photographs to show how its historical identity continues to shape its role in contemporary Antwerp.
The term ‘genius loci‘ is Latin for “the spirit of a place”. The chronicle explores how that spirit endures as the former monastery provides a home for people and associations from different social backgrounds and parts of the world.
Residents document Antwerp’s heritage
City Chronicles are initiated by residents or local organisations, who research historical and contemporary sources, conduct interviews and work together to document the stories of their communities and neighbourhoods, with support from ErfgoedLab Antwerpen.
The two new publications explore different facets of the city’s past: the history of a discreet Masonic community and the evolution of a former religious site into a meeting place for Antwerp’s diverse population.
