[1] The church was built next to the Huis van Aecken, bought from the heirs of Erasmus II Schetz.

He was also commissioned to paint the ceiling pieces, for which he made the designs while the execution was done mostly by pupils, including Anthony van Dyck.

[2] A contract was drawn up in 1620 by Jacobus Tirinus and the paintings were delivered a year later in time for the consecration.

[2] In 1718, the vault of the nave, including Rubens' ceiling paintings, was destroyed by fire.

[1] During the Dutch rule preceding Belgium's independence in 1830, the Baroque interior was sobered to make it a Protestant church.