Beltjens died at the age of 58. Directly after his death in 1890, an effort was undertaken to collect and publish his work, but these plans failed when they realised that his most important works were missing. Later efforts to publish such a volume date from 1909 and 1932, and were abandoned for the same reason. Meanwhile, various committees had compiled a collection of his work. This collection was donated to the city archive of Beltjens' native city. One hundred years after his death, his published poems were printed in a collection titled Poésies. The poet was even commemorated with a bust. This statue stands in the public garden where he reportedly used to dally his unreachable beloved.

From home to boarding school | Quest for identity | Posthumous recognition