In 2026-2027, KADOC-KU Leuven, the Documentation and Research Centre for Religion, Culture and Society, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
On September 4, 2026, KADOC kicked off the jubilee year with a book presentation and the opening of an exhibition.

The academic session was opened by chairman Bart Raymaekers.

Following the presentation of the book ‘Vloek en zegen’ (Curse and Blessing), featuring poignant stories about the influence of religion on society in Flanders (1750-present), the opening of the exhibition followed: ‘God in the Street. How religion shapes public space’ (Flanders Architecture Institute & KADOC-KU Leuven).

The curators, led by Eva Weyns, coordinator of the knowledge center and consultant for the Flanders Architecture Institute, take you on a special journey of discovery through this underexposed aspect of public space.

During the exhibition, attention is also paid to the impact of provincial architect Jozef Schellekens, partly through the book he wrote in 1941 at the request of the provincial government of Antwerp.

For instance, the exhibition refers to the construction of a church for the then-developing hamlet of Mol-Donk by architect René Van Steenbergen. Jozef Schellekens advised creating an urban plan first, before the church was built.

Book – ‘De architectuur in ons landschap en het Stedebouwprobleem’ – Jozef Schellekens – 1941

“In 1941, Jozef Schellekens compiled his ideas on urban planning in a book. Urban planning is about how you make agreements regarding the design of space. When this book appeared, there were very few rules regarding urban planning in Belgium. Schellekens was convinced that only by creating urban plans for the country, the region, the municipality, and the neighborhood could public space be organized in an orderly fashion. Buildings such as churches, town halls, and schools help to structure that space.”

“Flanders Architecture Institute – 71-LBE-SCHE-1941”

As early as the 1940s, Schellekens indicated that the Campine landscape would be compromised by the arrival of the car and the further expansion of the electricity grid. This development eventually took place in the 1960s and led, among other things, to the well-known ribbon development.

KADOC – https://kadoc.kuleuven.be/

Flanders Architecture Institute (VAi) – https://www.vai.be/

Jozef Schellekens’ great-grandson, Jan Vanhout, curator of the Architectural Conservation Trust, and his grandson, architect Luc Vanhout of Architects in Motion, were present at the opening of the jubilee year and the exhibition.

All information about the exhibition can be found via:
https://kadoc.kuleuven.be/3_onderzoek/33_onzeonderzoeksoutput/tentoonstellingen/2026/tt_2026_06_god-op-straat