Renovation works to transform St Anne Church in Ghent into a Delhaize supermarket, complete with a wine bar, restaurant, and public park, are set to begin. First announced in 2018, the project faced repeated opposition from local residents before the 99-year leasehold agreement was finally signed in 2023. Restoration work began in February 2025, and Delhaize recently invited the public inside for a last glimpse before construction starts.
“Another temple of faith giving way to the cathedral of consumerism,” Jean Baudrillard might have observed.
Delhaize has pledged to “carry out the necessary work to ensure that the building stands the test of time, without compromising its heritage value. This work includes energy efficiency improvements, new technical installations, air conditioning and improved accessibility.” The supermarket group plans to open the shop, restaurant and wine bar by autumn 2027.
“I understand that some people are emotional about this, and rightly so, because it is an important piece of our city’s heritage,” said mayor Mathias De Clercq (Open VLD). “But the alternative is years of vacancy, which benefits no one.” Flemish Heritage Minister Ben Weyts (N-VA) also defended the conversion, calling it a pragmatic choice.
Designed by architect Lodewijk Roelandt, St Anne Church opened in 1866 and is a protected landmark. Initially envisioned as a grand Byzantine design, the final structure, modified by Jacques Van Hoecke, blends Romanesque, Byzantine, and Gothic elements. Despite its historic status, the church fell into disrepair after decades of declining attendance and sporadic use for services and concerts.
How does a church become so neglected? Maintenance costs are often overwhelming. In many cases, churches are still owned by local church councils (kerkfabrieken), which once relied on donations from baptisms, communions, and weddings. Today, many of these councils are nearly bankrupt. Under a Napoleonic-era law, municipalities are obliged to cover the shortfall, prompting calls for adaptive reuse of religious buildings.
Delhaize, founded in 1867, merged with the Dutch Ahold group in 2016. This merger is culturally significant, connecting Delhaize to a tradition in Protestant countries like the Netherlands and Germany where church buildings are not consecrated, making them easier to repurpose. In contrast, Catholic churches require a formal process of deconsecration—lengthy, symbolic, and expensive. Sint-Anna’s transformation is thus a first in Flanders for a purpose that is commercial rather than social.
Not all churches are deemed worth saving. There are around 1,000 churches in Flanders, many built after World War II and lacking heritage status. Some occupy valuable urban plots. As one analyst warned, “We need to realise that by deciding to protect a building, we’re passing the responsibility and cost on to future generations.”
The project also touches on deeper theological questions. “Where do we find God? For a long time, the answer was clear: within the thick walls of the church. But churches have also been sites of abuse of power and pain,” one academic noted. “The whole discussion around reallocating churches thus represents a theological opportunity to think about God’s presence in new ways.”
By autumn 2027, when Delhaize opens its doors, St Anne Church – its altar now presided over by the Delhaize lion – will have transformed into a supermarket, wine bar, and community hub. “It has everything it needs to be a vibrant place for the neighbourhood,” said Mayor De Clercq. It may no longer be a religious space, but its community purpose will have been preserved.
