The Chapel of 't Hammeke in Zemst: Between Water and Pavement.
The Chapel of Our Lady in 't Hammeke, popularly known as the Chapel of Ham, is nestled in the Zenne Valley near Zemst. Originally founded in the 15th century on a siltation ("ham") of the Zenne, the chapel served as a local pilgrimage site for centuries. Due to the straightening of the Zenne in 1485 and the construction of the E19 motorway in the 20th century, it was literally trapped between the river and the motorway. The surrounding neighborhood, "De Brug," disappeared, and the chapel became isolated and threatened. Thanks to its protection as a monument since 1974 and a restoration grant from the Flemish government in 2021, the chapel recently underwent a thorough renovation. Archaeological research uncovered remains of centuries-old foundations. Since September 2023, the interior has been permanently visible through a reopened alcove. This special chapel, at the intersection of nature, history and infrastructure, continues to tell its silent story.