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History of the Our Lady of Hanswijk Procession

In 988 a ship sailed up the Dijle, with a wooden image of the Virgin Mary on board. Off Hanswijk the ship ran aground. After vain efforts to get it afloat again, the image was put ashore and at once the ship got afloat. A sign that Mary wanted to stay there.

In 1272 Mechelen was harassed by troubles and pestilence. Being at their wits’end, the citizens had recourse to Our Lady and carried her image to town. When pestilence disappeared, they promised to carry every year the image solemnly through the town.

The miraculous image knew an increasing veneration; each year the procession went through the town. In 1876 the image was crowned on behalf of the pope. It was the official recognition of nine centuries of popular devotion to Our Lady of Hanswijk.