The theme of this year's Journées du Patrimoine in Belgium is culinary heritage. Together with les Amis de l'église Saint-Loup de Namur, we have found a way to participate in this year's event with some beautiful excerpts from Baroque cantatas about... coffee.

Rediscover a Baroque gem in a new light through Bach's famous Kaffeekantate.

Free admission
Free coffee tasting provided by Cafés Delahaut

In collaboration with IMEP, les Orgues de Saint-Loup, les Amis de l'église Saint-Loup, les Journées du Patrimoine.

SCHEDULE

Saturday, 13 September 2025
11 am & 3 pm (duration 30 min)

Sunday 14 September 2025
3pm (duration 30 mins)

Located in the historic heart of Namur, Saint-Loup Church is one of the jewels of Baroque art in the former Southern Netherlands. Built between 1621 and 1645 by architect P. Huyssens, it is a faithful translation of the precepts of the Catholic Reformation of the 16th century. At the same time, the cantata, an innovative vocal expression of a secular or sacred nature, was developing in Europe. This weekend will give you the opportunity to discover the famous ‘Kaffeekantate’ BWV 211 or Coffee Cantata by J. S. Bach (1685-1750), which tells how strong the addiction to coffee could (already) have been at that time. Come and enjoy this exceptional place and savour a good cup of Baroque coffee.

PROGRAMME

Johann Sebastian BACH:
Komm, heiliger Geist, bringt uns guten Kaffe BWV 651a by Guy Van Waas on the grand organ in the gallery

Nicolas BERNIER (1664 - 1734)
Cantata Le Caffé (1703): excerpts, singers and instrumentalists around the nave organ

Johann Sebastian BACH
Excerpt from the Coffee Cantata BWV 211 (1734), singer and instrumentalists around the nave organ
Aria: ‘Ei ! wie schmekt der Coffee süsse...’

MUSICIANS

Guy Van Waas, organ and musical direction

Aline Giaux and Aya Tanaka, sopranos (IMEP)

Laure Stehlin, baroque flute

Maria-Laura Schoutteten, violin (IMEP)

Victor Dôme, cello (IMEP)