Grand Beguinage Mechelen

Around 1560, the beguinage outside the city walls was destroyed. The beguines moved back to the city center, where the Grand Beguinage grew. They bought existing buildings and constructed new homes. As a result, the Grand Beguinage has a unique character compared to beguinages in other cities.

The small, cozy streets of the beguinages exude tranquility. It is very pleasant to stay and live in the houses, which are protected monuments. The residents also thank you for respecting their privacy. Thanks to its typical Flemish character and distinctive architecture, the Grand Beguinage has earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A beguinage was a small city within a city. With its own bakery, brewery, nursing home, church, and bleaching fields. Beguinages were founded during the time of the Crusades. Many men went on crusades but never returned. This led to an excess of women, including widows, orphans, and women who could not find suitable husbands. Going to the convent was a solution because convents often only accepted noble or wealthy women.

Women who could not or did not want to enter convents lived together and provided for themselves. The major difference from convents was that the beguines did not take the eternal vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. So, they were not bound for life, although it was customary.

Initially, the church treated them as heretics, but gradually they were accepted on the condition that they led a pious life. This is how the beguinages in Flanders originated. At the head of a beguinage was the grand mistress or lady superior. She was assisted in the organization and coordination of daily life by mistresses.

There were wealthy, usually noble beguines who built or bought their own houses in the beguinage. Less affluent beguines rented a room from these landladies and took care of the household. Beguines without property found accommodation in the convents. They are similar to small-scale convents. They were usually founded by benefactors to ensure that prayers were said for them or their deceased family members. Beguines in the convents had to work for their livelihood. Therefore, lace-making became one of the most important activities from the seventeenth century onwards. The beguinage played a crucial role in the production of Mechelen lace.

The Grand Beguinage of Mechelen is located near the Van der Valk Hotel Mechelen.