Important dates

  • January 1897 : train stops in Heide. Jewish diamond merchants, including Marcel Tolkowsky, discover Heide. 
  • After W.W. 1 The need for a permanent place of worship arises for the Jewish community. Under the impulse of Mendel Kornreich, Awigdor Weinmann, Joseph Liebermann, Josef Freides, Izrael Apsel, Jankel Stern, Jankel Liebmann, Samuel Spira and Mendel Leib Morgenstein, the synagogue was built. The construction is being financed by private individuals, with Mendel Kornreich, as a wealthy diamond merchant, being the chairman and main lender.
  • Architect Jan Frans Beirens from Kalmthout is responsible for the design.
  • November 29, 1927 : planning application is approved. Contractor Alexander Nagels is charged with the works. The local glazier Cotteleer makes a round stained glass window with the “magen David”.
  • 1929 : the synagogue is inaugurated.
  • During WWII , the synagogue was reasonably spared, but it became increasingly difficult to find a minyan (10 men to be able to hold a synagogue service).
  • December 21, 1998 : death of the last concierge. The synagogue will be almost permanently empty, resulting in decay.
  • September 11, 2002 ‘Open Monumentendag’
    During this open monument day, the synagogue building was opened to the public. Overwhelming success! All day long there was a long line of interested people to visit the synagogue.
    At that time it was also decided to definitively start a working group .
  • May 10, 2005 : The working group is transformed into a non-profit organization namely’ VZW Synagoge Heide‘ . The chairman was Joris Vercraeye , the alderman of culture in Kalmthout.
  • may 30, 2007 : the building is permanently protected by the then minister Dirk van Mechelen .
  • Jean Bastiaensen manages to find the current owners/heirs (more than 61) spread all over the world.
  • Last years until 2020 :
  • cooperation with the competent ministry, the province, the municipal administration, Shomre Hadas and Machsike Hadas.
  • appointment of an administrator, Master Koen Maenhout
  • preparation of restoration file by the architects of “Erfgoed en Visie”.
  • July 2020 : the commission “open Erfgoed” gives the green light, the restoration of the synagogue building can be started.