regimes of the 18th century brought religious and administrative reforms to the city.
1830 to the present day
In 1830, Nivelles was one of the first cities to send patriotic troops to Brussels to fight in the Belgian Revolution. The following years were marked by the growth of heavy industry, including metallurgy and railway construction. Bombing of the city during World War I brought some damage to buildings, but greater devastation occurred during World War II on May 14, 1940, when almost the entire city centre was destroyed, leaving only the walls of the collegiate church standing. The rebuilding of the church was completed in 1984, but remains can be seen of wall fragments on the south side of the collegiate
