Welcome to the
Aarschot Peace Carillon


Royal Eijsbouts Carillon
inaugurated November 11th 2018


>Nederlands


History of the Carillon in general


1510: the first carillon was built in Oudenaarde (Flanders).

2014: The carillon culture was recognized by UNESCO.

History of the Aarschot Peace Carillon



1578: The old carillon of the Aarschot Church of Our Lady had 12 bells.


The city of Aarschot was distroyed many times during the 80 year war, the peasantry, the two world wars ...


The carillon is a typical Flemisch musical instrument. During centuries bells were taken out during the war and new bells were reinstalled after the war.



1798: During the French Revolution all bells of Aarschot were taken to France to convert into money coins.



1817-1873: Four new swinging bells were installed in the Tower of Our Lady. Two bell founders from Leuven cast each two bells: A.L.Vanden Gheyn and Severinus Van Aerschodt.


Arthur Bigelow at the Universtity of Princeton USA.

1939: Just before WWII the city carillonneur of Leuven Arthur Bigelow was involved in the first attempt to install a carillon in the Aarschot Church of Our Lady.


1943: 3 swinging bells of the Aarschot Church of Our Lady were removed to Hamburg Germany. Only the little bell Saint-Michael was left in the tower.


1950: Three new bells for the Aarschot Church of Our Lady were cast by Françiois Sergeys from Leuven.



1968-1974: Jo Haazen was involved in the second attempt to install a carillon in the Aarschot Church of Our Lady.



2018: Marc Van Eyck finally got the new Aarschot Peace Carillon installed by Royal Eijsbouts Bell Foundry in a third and successful attempt.



2018: The Aarschot Peace Carillon was a project of Dean Huub Gerits (right), supported by the population, church, city and many more.



2018: High quality bell casting techniques used for production of the carillon.



2018: New bells were cast and tuned for the Aarschot Peace Carillon.


Old WWI artillery shells were melted into the bronze.

...and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks...(Isaiah 2:4)



2018: A freshly new cast bell of the Aarschot Peace Carillonat the Royal Eijsbouts Bell Foundry Asten (The Netherlands). With Rev. Huub Gerits, André Peeters mayor of Aarschot, Mr.Ernst Lauterjung Bürgermeister of Solingen Germany on behalf of Mr.Tim Kruzbach Oberbürgermeiser of Solingen and consultant-carilllonist Marc Van Eyck.



2018: Arriving of the new Aarschot Carillon bells and blessing of the bells by H.R. Dean Huub Gerits.



2018: The construction of the Aarschot Peace Carillon was well prepared and the result of a successful collaboration between the church and the city.



High tech performance electro pneumatic drum.

One of world's finest traditional carillons with 21st century features, high tech transmission and splendid accoustic results.
Inauguration Peace Carillon



November 11th 2018, inauguration of the new Peace Carillon of Aarschot.

Fotos: Nadine Deca Clickshot

H.E. Mr.Hajime Hayashi Ambassador of Japan and André Peeters Mayor of Aarschot.

【アールスコート共同】第1次大
戦終結から100年となった11日、
ベルギー中部アールスコートで
平和を願う51個の鐘からなる
カリヨンꅄみ鐘瑌披露 された。制作関係者が
「日本の鐘」と呼ぶ鐘には日本
語で「永遠の平和」と記された
ほか、アールスコート
に縁が深いファンロンパイ
前欧州連合⑅U紧統領 のオランダ語俳句も刻まれた



Mr.Oguma Hironao, Ms Lesley Ni Bhriain Deputy Head of Mission on behalf of H.E.Ms.Helena Nolan, Ambassador of Ireland, Mel, Beth and Stephen Lynam, Nico Creces, Ria Verlaenen, Mrs.Ingrid Lauterjung, Mrs.Haruko Hayashi, Mr.Ernst Lauterjung Bürgermeister of Solingen on behalf of Mr.Tim Kruzbach Oberbürgermeiser of Solingen, H.E. Mr.Hajime Hayashi Ambassador of Japan, André Peeters Mayor of Aarschot, Marc Dillen, Bob Verstraete, Christel Verlinden, Marc Van Eyck and Rev. Huub Gerits.


Travelling carillon during the inauguration played by a young Carillonist Elien Vandenbroeck.



2018: more than 5000 people enjoyed the inauguration of the new Aarschot Peace carillon.


2018: Jo Haazen ready for playing the first notes on the new Aarschot Peace Carillon.

New design Peace Carillon


Hand made decoration in wax.


New profile for greater dynamics.


Short steel cable connection for smooth playing experience.


A second 360° balcony for better view of the bells.


Easy access and maximum space for maintenance purpose.



Black key frame for better contrast with the white keys.


White reflection screen on top for improved sound volume outside the tower. The third balcony gives easy access to the bells.



New well balanced clapper weight proportion for best dynamic results.



Lifetime possibility to adjust the touché (behaviour) of the keys and loudness of the bells in less than one day.

High performance new designed curved cranks (VEMA-transmission) for best balance and easy adjustment.



Super high quality tuning for best acoustic results. Bells are ready for inspection.








High quality decoration hand made.



Safe access to all parts of the carillon for adjustments by technicians and carillonneurs.



The construction of the Aarschot Peace Carillon was only made possible thanks to all sponsors.
Visit the Carillon:
highly recommended






Interesting visit to the Aarschot Peace carillon. Three special balconies makes it possible to see and touch the new bells.




2019: Visit of the Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Ambassador Helena Nolan.







A combined visit to the Aarschot Church of Our Lady and the Peace carillon makes a trip to the small town of Aarschot more than worth while...


View from the first balcony: historical swinging bells from 1950 and 1873. Two historic bells are integrated in the new Aarschot Peace Carillon.


2018: Visit of Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council. He wrote the Haiku that is written on the Bes1 bell.

"The weapons are silent.
But the bells are cheering loudly.
Peace forever "





Best choice activity for children and adults: visiting the Aarschot Peace Carillon...





Special music for interaction with visitors.


Enough space for enjoying private carillon concert.



Half way climbing the tower visitors can rest and enjoy a projection about the history of the Aarschot Carillon Bells.



乐 钟 平 天 下
Both the Cis3 bell and the large Bes1 bell bear a message of peace in Chinese with the words 乐 钟 平 天 下 , in pinyin:
Yuè Zhōng Píng Tiān Xià. This message of peace means “from the carillon resounds the wish for world peace”.





Peace carillon bells connects people... Bells tell us stories from WWI.


The largest bell of the new peace carillon. The godfather is the Ambassador of Japan H.E. Hajime Hayashi. He wrote the Japanese text 永遠の平和 (
Eien no heiwa) "Peace for ever" inscribed on the bell.



The nice quiet small city of Aarschot at 35 km from Brussels.



Aarschot Church of Our Lady seen from the city park.



Welcome to the beautiful town of Aarschot, enjoy your visit!

Our 51 bells of the Peace Carillon will sing for you!



The construction of the Aarschot Peace Carillon was the result of a successful collaboration between the church, the city, the carillon committee and many others.


G
wendolyn Rutten, Mayer of Aarschot

2018: Aarschot is a proud carillon city!


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