Which municipalities have the most protected heritage?
Antwerp has the most protected monuments in Flanders (1,180), followed by Ghent (673) and Bruges (608). Across Flanders, 11,396 protected monuments, 1,521 protected townscapes and village views, and 72,387 designations of listed architectural heritage are in force.
What stands out
- The five municipalities with the most monuments account for 27% of all protected monuments in Flanders.
- Per km², Mechelen has the most monuments (6.1), followed by Antwerp (5.7) and Blankenberge (4.7).
- Half of the municipalities have 18 protected monuments or fewer.
- Ghent has the most protected townscapes and village views (73); 39 municipalities have none.
Other things often matter on the same plot too, such as crime figures by municipality and heritage protection. You can see how a report brings them together in the sample report.
What it means if you buy a house there
Works on a protected monument need permission from Onroerend Erfgoed or, if an environmental permit is required, its advice. The interior can be protected too.
In a protected townscape or village view, every renovation has to fit the whole, even for a home that is not protected itself.
A home in the established inventory of architectural heritage is not protected, but demolishing it always requires a permit, and the permitting authority weighs its heritage value.
The municipalities with the most protected monuments
| Municipality | Protected monuments |
|---|---|
| Antwerp | 1,180 |
| Ghent | 673 |
| Bruges | 608 |
| Mechelen | 400 |
| Tongeren-Borgloon | 262 |
| Kortrijk | 252 |
| Leuven | 233 |
| Dendermonde | 216 |
| Sint-Truiden | 211 |
| Ostend | 179 |
| Ypres | 154 |
| Oudenaarde | 149 |
| Hasselt | 148 |
| Veurne | 138 |
| Lier | 130 |
| Aalst | 119 |
| Diest | 112 |
| Riemst | 106 |
| Poperinge | 93 |
| Blankenberge | 90 |
The municipalities with the most listed architectural heritage
| Municipality | Established architectural heritage |
|---|---|
| Antwerp | 7,176 |
| Ghent | 5,566 |
| Bruges | 4,450 |
| Leuven | 1,830 |
| Kortrijk | 1,636 |
| Mechelen | 1,266 |
| Ypres | 1,083 |
| Ostend | 934 |
| Dendermonde | 873 |
| Tielt | 815 |
| Tongeren-Borgloon | 770 |
| Wingene | 729 |
| Oudenaarde | 703 |
| Waregem | 678 |
| Lier | 645 |
| Roeselare | 644 |
| De Haan | 637 |
| Diksmuide | 627 |
| Ronse | 615 |
| Menen | 577 |
All 285 Flemish municipalities
How we count
Each designation by Onroerend Erfgoed that is in force today counts once, in the municipality where it lies, using the municipalities as they are after the 2025 mergers. One designation can cover more than one building, such as a church with its presbytery or a farm with its barns.
The full list gives the protected monuments of each municipality; the established architectural heritage is on the page of the municipality itself.
Status on 24 October 2026. What affects a plot itself is shown by the Perceelscan for each address, with a link to the record of every designation.
How many protected monuments does Flanders have?
Flanders has 11,396 protected monuments, 1,521 protected townscapes and village views, and 72,387 designations of established architectural heritage (as of 24 October 2026).
Which municipality has the most monuments?
Antwerp, with 1,180 protected monuments. Per km², Mechelen has the most: 6.1.
Can you demolish a house on the inventory of architectural heritage?
A home in the established inventory of architectural heritage is not protected, but demolishing it always requires a permit, and the permitting authority weighs its heritage value.
Sources
Updated on