Salve Mater in Belgium was a psychiatric centre for women. It was set up by the ‘Sisters of Mercy’ and the hospital was built on lands owned by the counts of Spoelberg and was opened in 1927 by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. The hospital is set within parkland which was landscaped as an English scenic garden. The park was protected by the Administration of Monuments and Landscapes due to its rich collection of trees and plants, however the land has now been neglected for some time. The central building held the psychiatric clinic’s administrative offices and the sisters’ convent until it’s closure in 1997. Some of the other buildings were still in use until 2007.

 

The main part of the accessible area is occupied by the artist Pascal Baetens....

We did not see him on our visit - and we also forgot about the morgue (Doh!) so a return visit might be on

the cards at some time soon !

Salve Mater Sanitorium.