Vandals Break Clock Hands from Church Tower in Aalter

Unknown vandals have broken off the large clock hands from all four faces of the Sint-Corneliuskerk (St. Cornelius Church) in Aalter, East Flanders, climbing scaffolding erected for a major restoration project to reach a height of approximately 40 metres. The incident, which occurred during the night of Friday 12 June to Saturday 13 June 2026, has left local authorities and church officials baffled, with police classifying the act as “vernieling met geweld” (destruction with violence), a charge more serious than simple vandalism.

The Incident

According to VRT NWS, the church tower was fully covered in scaffolding for a €465,000 restoration project that began in January 2026. The vandals climbed the 13-level scaffolding structure, which rises over 27 metres, to reach the tower clocks at approximately 40 metres.

Walter Verniers, secretary of the Kerkfabriek Sint-Cornelius (Church Factory), told reporters that the damage was discovered when church council members gathered to inspect the restoration works over the weekend. “We were inspecting the works, but when we got to the top, we noticed that one of the clock hands was missing,” Verniers said. “Not just that one clock, but all four clocks, on every side of the tower, had been vandalised.”

The clock hands, measuring between 80 centimetres and 1 metre in length, were broken off at the axle. The central axles were also bent, significantly increasing repair costs. A specialised company is assessing the damage on 16 June 2026, and custom-made replacement hands will be required.

Baffling Motive

What makes the crime particularly puzzling is the nature of the stolen items. As AVS reported, the clock hands are made of plastic, not metal, and their gold colour is simply paint. This rules out theft for scrap value.

“We don’t understand what the intention was here,” Verniers told VRT NWS. “They’re not even metal hands, they’re made of plastic. Anyone looking for gold will also return empty-handed, because the gold colour is just paint.”

Luc De Neve, a member of the church council, suggested to AVS that the motive was likely “stoerdoenerij” (showing off). “I think it’s just a matter of showing off. They climbed the scaffolding and wanted to take a souvenir.”

Police Investigation

In the early hours of Saturday morning, neighbours reported seeing flashlight beams on the scaffolding. Police patrols responded but found no one. The church has no security cameras, as the church council had not anticipated needing them.

“The police say this goes beyond vandalism. This is destruction with violence,” Verniers said. Police have classified the act as “vernieling met geweld” and have launched an investigation. They will increase patrols near the church and have called for witnesses to come forward.

Bart De Ryck, a local resident, commented to HLN: “Incomprehensible that no one saw anything. This is a place where people pass by day and night.”

Restoration Project Impact

The vandalism comes at a particularly unfortunate time. The tower restoration project, with a total budget of €465,000 — including a €175,000 premium from the Flemish Heritage Agency (Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed) and the remainder from the municipality of Aalter — was nearing completion before the summer construction holiday.

The scope of work includes cleaning louvre openings, replacing damaged natural stone, installing new stainless steel bars and bird netting, and renewing lighting on the clock faces. The damage to the clock hands now adds unexpected costs, with estimates running into several thousand euros. It remains unclear whether the damage is covered by insurance.

A Positive Note Amid the Bizarre

Despite the frustration, Verniers found a silver lining. “We also see a positive side to this bizarre story: at least no one fell from the tower. That could have happened too, especially if whoever was behind this was drunk. That human damage would be much greater than the material damage.”

As far as Verniers knows, this is the first time tower clock hands have been stolen in the region. “A church isn’t very often in scaffolding, and then you can’t even get up there,” he noted.

The investigation continues, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.