New Urban Relics
februari 13, 2026
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In urban explorer circles, these burial monuments are called "crypts." This is actually incorrect. A crypt is a cellar where relics are kept, usually found beneath churches and cathedrals, but sometimes also beneath palaces. The correct term for a subterranean burial place like this is "tomb gallery." This phenomenon is typical of major Belgian cities, but unique worldwide. The tomb gallery in these photos dates from 1895. It is a simple concrete structure with a symmetrical plan, housing 540 burial niches.
The use of these burial galleries originated at the end of the 19th century . At that time, people were looking for a solution to the ever-increasing number of bodies in and around cities. A solution had to be hygienic, yet space-saving. This was ultimately found in the construction of underground burial vaults with niches stacked on top of each other and next to each other. A coffin could be bricked into each niche. The first such burial gallery in Belgium was opened in 1878. Due to its growing success, the system was soon adopted in other cemeteries.
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