Church of Our Lady, Kortrijk

About

The Church of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) is a former collegiate church located in the centre of Kortrijk, Belgium. It was built and established by Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders in 1199.

The church played a major role in the history of the County of Flanders. The original chapel was situated within the domain of the Counts of Flanders which was, except for the part along the river Lys, fully walled. By request of Balduin IX and his wif Mary of Champagne, the chapel was extended and became church. Inside a collegiate chapter with twelve canons in honour of our lady was installed by request of the Count. This chapter received papal approbation in 1203 by Pope Innocent III. Th count provided himself the Prebendaries and gave important relics, that came from Jerusalem with the crusades. The chapter was considered one of the most important of Flanders. After the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, which took place nearby on the Groeningekouter, the Flemish people hung 500 Golden Spurs of killed French knights on the ceiling of the church. Mercenaries took them away, in 1382 after the Battle of Roosebeke. They were replaced by replicas which...