Begijnhof and Chapel

In about 1150, a group of women came together to live in a religious community, primarily to look after the sick. These were, in effect, these were the first 'Beguines' although the name was not yet used. The women were not nuns and nor did they live in the seclusion of a convent.

They had no founders nor did they make lifelong vows. They did have to be unmarried, to make a vow of chastity and to promise obedience to the parish priest, but since they were not expected to make a vow of poverty, they were free to dispose of their own possessions. At the restoration of the Beguinage (1984-1987), the courtyard was renovated and some houses enlarged. The occupancy of the houses changed as well. On 23 May 1971, Sister Antonia, the last Beguine, died, 84 years old. She was buried in the cemetery of St Barbara, where the Beguines had had a common grave of their own since 1893. So, since 1971, the Beguinage is no longer a beguinage in the strict sense of the word. The chapel, too, has undergone many changes. It was extended considerably to the right and the Beguines were given their own side chapel on the left.

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