A guide to the Beguinages of Belgium; the thirteen UNESCO sites and six smaller ones, along with local accommodation suggestions.
You can read about the Beguines. But to truly understand them, you need to walk through a gate, hear the city noise fade, and stand where they stood.
Belgium is the last country in the world where beguinages still stand in any number. The beguinages of Belgium survive in roughly 30 cities and towns across Flanders: some vast and atmospheric; others tucked down a side street you’d walk right past. Thirteen of them have been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, a recognition of their exceptional architectural integrity and their extraordinary place in the history of women’s lives.
Every one of them is worth visiting. The UNESCO sites are the most celebrated, but several non-UNESCO beguinages have their own quiet charm and see far fewer visitors. This guide covers the 13 UNESCO-listed sites plus the most accessible and rewarding of the others, so you can build your own beguinage trail across the country.
A few practical notes before you set off. In Flemish (Dutch), a beguinage is a Begijnhof, so follow signs for that. Most beguinages are free to enter and open during daylight hours, though the churches, museums, and chapels within them keep their own hours. Many are still inhabited by nuns, students, or private residents, so quiet and respectful behaviour is expected everywhere. Gates are typically closed at dusk.
THE 13 UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE BEGUINAGES
1. Bruges: Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde
The most visited beguinage in Belgium, and with good reason. Enter via a footbridge over the canal, pass through the 18th-century gate bearing the image of Saint Elizabeth, and you step into one of the most tranquil spaces in all of Bruges. A large courtyard garden (daffodils in spring, rustling poplars year-round) is surrounded by white-painted houses that date mostly from the 17th century, though the community itself was founded in 1245. Since 1927, Benedictine nuns have lived here; the beguines are long gone, but the silence they prized remains.
A small museum in a house beside the gate shows what life looked like inside in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Early Gothic church is one of the oldest in Bruges, and if you arrive around noon you may hear the nuns singing. More information at VisitBruges website.
Where to stay nearby:
- Boutiquehotel ‘t Fraeyhuis: “Great location, walking distance across the park from the station. Quiet location in the heart of Brugge.”
- Dukes’ Academie Brugge: “Excellent! Everything was absolutely fabulous: the staff, the room size, the cleanliness, the bed, the location of the hotel.“
2. Ghent: Small Beguinage (Our Lady Ter Hooyen)
Ghent has three beguinages in total, two of which are on the UNESCO list. The Small Beguinage is officially the Beguinage of Our Lady Ter Hooyen, founded in 1234. It’s the more atmospheric of the two for the casual visitor. A large central lawn is ringed by beguine houses, with an imposing church at its heart. It sits just a short walk from Ghent’s medieval city centre, making it easy to fold into a day’s sightseeing. The area is freely walkable, though much of it is now private residential. More info at Visit Ghent website.
Where to stay nearby:
- Yalo Urban Boutique Hotel: “We love this hotel. The service is excellent and the staff is always warm and welcoming. They offer a convenient parking garage for guests.”
- B&B Faja Lobi: “The staff was lovely. The place is beautiful, with a garden and comfortable bedroom. I strongly recommend it!”
3. Sint-Amandsberg (Ghent): Grand Beguinage
The second of Ghent’s UNESCO beguinages sits in the Sint-Amandsberg district. It was founded in 1873-74 in neo-Gothic style. This makes it young by beguinage standards. Its scale makes up for its late appearance though; it is built on an 8-hectare site, with a large church, three squares, and extensive greenery. It was created to house the 600 Beguines who left the overcrowded old St. Elisabeth beguinage in the city centre. Today the houses are inhabited by private residents, but the grounds are freely accessible and give a vivid sense of what a truly large beguinage community looked like. More info at their website.
Where to stay nearby:
- Maison Kitoko: “Room is very clean and is very nicely decorated. It is situated in a very beautiful historical house. Benjamin is a very kind host.”
- Maison d’Artiste: “Our host was very kind and helpful, the breakfast was wonderful, the space was beautiful, and it was an easy walk into town.”
4. Leuven: Grand Beguinage (Groot Begijnhof)
This is one of the largest surviving beguinages in the Low Countries. It’s a full 3-hectare walled enclave of cobblestone streets, brick houses, bridges over a small river, and lush greenery. It dates from the 13th century. In 1960, with the buildings falling into disrepair, the University of Leuven bought the entire complex and restored it over two decades. Today it houses students and visiting academics, which gives it a wonderfully lived-in quality rather than a museum-piece feel.
Leuven is just 30 minutes by train from Brussels, making this the most accessible UNESCO beguinage for visitors to the capital. Entry to the grounds is free and open year-round. Simply walk through the old stone archway and wander. More info at Visit Leuven website.
Where to stay nearby:
- Hotel Guesthouse Begijnhof: “Truly worth the rating “exceptional”. Incredible location, both the surroundings and the building itself. Very nice rooms, super clean.”
- Begijnhof Hotel: “Great location, close to historical place. Comfortable bed and nice looking room Helpful staff.”
5. Kortrijk: Beguinage
Founded in 1242 and several times destroyed and rebuilt, Kortrijk’s beguinage is a peaceful enclave of 42 white houses and intimate chapels. It holds a particular poignancy: this is where the last known Flemish Beguine, Marcella Pattyn, lived until her death in 2013. The former Grand Dame’s house now serves as a beguinage museum. The grounds are freely accessible, and the site is compact enough to explore comfortably in under an hour. More info at Visit Kortrijk website.
Where to stay nearby:
- Maison Martin 7: “Great hotel! Very nice host, high quality breakfast and super stylish interior with attention to detail. Good location in the city centre.”
- Cobergher Hotel: “Absolutely beautiful property. Top notch service and the most friendly staff. Great location.”
6. Mechelen: Grand Beguinage
Mechelen’s beguinage has a unique history: it was completely destroyed during the Beeldenstorm (the Calvinist iconoclasm) in the 1560s, forcing the Beguines to re-establish their community within the city walls. This gives it a different character from most Flemish beguinages; more urban, more integrated into the surrounding streetscape. The Baroque church of Saints Alexius and Catherine is architecturally remarkable. Mechelen is well connected by rail and worth combining with a city tour.
Where to stay nearby:
- Hotel Brouwerij Het Anker: “Great rooms in historic brewery. The beer, dinner and breakfast were all great.”
- B&B De Vrome Vos: “Perfect location, beautiful old fashioned homely style very tastefully decorated. Very comfortable bed and wonderful bath.”
7. Lier: Beguinage
A 15-minute drive from Antwerp, Lier’s beguinage is one of the largest street beguinages in Belgium. It covers 2 hectares, and 95 picturesque houses across 11 narrow streets, all still walled and entered through a single Baroque gate from 1690. Each house bears a name rather than a number: ‘The Stall of Bethlehem’, ‘Vineyard of the Lord’. The beguinage dates from 1258, and the Saint Margareta church stands at its heart. It has a genuine enclosed, time-capsule quality that some of the more visited beguinages have lost. Freely accessible year-round. More info at Visit Lier.
Where to stay nearby:
- Hotel Zimmerhof: “Super sweet property in the center of Lier. Great beds and bathrooms. Everything was immaculately clean. Amazing breakfast.”
- Hotel Guzy: “The staff was amazing. Breakfast was delicious. Loved the shop inside. Highly recommend if ever in Lier.”
8. Dendermonde: Saint Alexius Beguinage
Founded in 1250 and devastated by Calvinist forces in 1597, most of Dendermonde’s 61 brick beguinage houses were rebuilt in the 17th century. The site includes a chapel, a Beguinage Museum, and a museum of local folklore. It is freely accessible year-round from 9am to 8pm. The museum opens from 1 April to 31 October. More info at Visit Dendermonde.
Where to stay nearby:
- Molenstraat: “Fantastic facilities with everything you could possibly need. Very clean and near to the train station, supermarket and restaurants.”
- Domus Portus: “Lovely quaint B&B in a perfect location. Very clean and comfortable. Hosts were so welcoming. Lovely breakfast too!”
9. Diest: Beguinage
The beguinage of Diest, dating from 1253, is unusually well preserved and architecturally distinctive. It’s a street beguinage with unusually broad, straight streets, unlike the more typical winding lanes. Most of its 90 houses date from the 17th century. The former infirmary and the Apostelen Convent now serve as Diest’s cultural centre, and several houses have been converted into artists’ studios, often open at weekends. The Gothic church of Saint Catherine is worth entering for its interior. Open year-round; studios generally open during weekends. More info at Visit Diest.
Where to stay nearby:
- Casa della Nonna: “Fantastic hosts and great place to stay. Monumental house breaths so much history and life. The breakfast on Sunday morning was awesome.”
- Oranje City Hotel: “A very lovely hotel and in a lovely building and centrally located in Diest.”
10. Hoogstraten: Beguinage
A 14th-century beguinage whose buildings were largely rebuilt in the 17th century, Hoogstraten’s beguinage is freely accessible at all times. The Baroque church of Saint Catherine can be visited by appointment through the local tourist office. Hoogstraten is in the Kempen region in the north of Antwerp province, so it pairs naturally with a visit to the nearby town centre and its remarkable 105-metre church tower, the third tallest in Belgium. More info at Visit Hoogstraten.
Where to stay locally:
- B&B Toast: “Lovely staff with a great location. The room was very nice and very clean. Amazing stay.”
- Hotel De Jachthoorn: “Large well appointed rooms. Excellent restaurant. Excellent breakfast. Secure bicycle storage.”
11. Turnhout: Beguinage
One of the most beautiful and least-visited of the UNESCO beguinages, Turnhout’s beguinage is a 13th-century foundation with a splendid Baroque church from 1665 and the Chapel of the Holy Countenance. The houses now serve as a residence for elderly residents, preserving the site’s living quality. Turnhout also has a dedicated Beguinage Museum (currently temporarily closed) housed within the complex, specifically focused on beguine culture and history, with the church now also visitable during museum opening hours. More info at Visit Turnhout.
Where to stay locally:
- Begijnhofpoort B&B: “Beautiful location, lovely room with a wonderful bed and a fantastic breakfast”
- Begijnhofpoort Vacation House: “Superb accommodation with all facilities and centrally located.”
12. Sint-Truiden: Saint Agnes Beguinage
Sint-Truiden’s beguinage, founded in 1258, is organised around a Gothic church, erected in three phases between the 13th and 16th centuries. Inside the church are 38 extraordinary wall and pillar paintings dating from the 13th to 17th centuries. The complex also includes a farm and an infirmary. The church is open April to October. More info at Visit Sint-Truiden.
Where to stay locally:
- KolMojen: “Very clean, quiet, place to stay. Lovely host, very accommodating with any questions and recommendations for places to go to/eat.”
- Zalig Haspengouw: “Nice decor and everything was neat and in order. Equipped with all amenities. A warm welcome with home-made cake.”
13. Tongeren: Saint Catherine Beguinage
Belgium’s oldest city has one of its most evocative beguinages. Beguines were present in Tongeren before 1239; at its peak in the 18th century, the community housed 300 women in 100 houses. Today its cobblestoned streets, picturesque courtyards, and the idyllic square called ‘Onder de Linde’ (Under the Lime Tree) still radiate calm. The Beghina Beguinage Museum, housed in a dwelling dating from 1660, tells the story of the community. More info at Visit Tongeren.
Where to stay locally:
- Le Petit Béguinage: “Immaculately clean, tastefully decorated, comfortably appointed, and conveniently located; an excellent base for exploring Tongeren”.
- De Pelgrim: “Brilliant. A wonderful hotel with very nice hosts. Be sure to try their Pelgrim Craft Beer. How unique and fitting to stay in a half-timbered house.”
BEYOND THE UNESCO LIST: ALSO WORTH YOUR TIME
The 13 UNESCO sites are exceptional, but Belgium’s beguinage heritage doesn’t stop there. Around 30 beguinages survive in total across Flanders. Here are the most rewarding of the non-UNESCO sites.
Antwerp: Saint Catherine Beguinage (Begijnhof)
Antwerp’s beguinage has a dramatic history. It was founded around 1240 outside the city walls, destroyed by troops in 1542, rebuilt inside the walls by 1545. Today its roughly 40 surviving 17th-century houses border a cobblestoned courtyard with a private central garden, entered through a monumental Baroque gate on the Rodestraat. The small church was demolished during the French occupation and rebuilt in the 19th century. More info at Visit Antwerp.
Herentals: Beguinage
Founded in 1266, destroyed in 1578, and rebuilt by 1590, Herentals’ beguinage is always open to visitors. The Gothic church of Saint Catherine was completed in 1614, and the former infirmary (house number 13) now serves as the Beguinage Museum. The church and museum can only be visited with a guide, arranged through the Herentals tourist office. More info.
Leuven: Small Beguinage
A complement to the Grand Beguinage nearby, the Small Beguinage dates from 1272 and consists of a single street with two dead-end alleys and about 30 houses. It has had a rougher history. Its church was demolished in 1862, and the infirmary had to make way for an expansion of the Stella Artois brewery in 1954. The restored houses are now in private ownership but the streets are open to the public. More info.
Mechelen: Small Beguinage
Less well-known than Mechelen’s Grand Beguinage, the Small Beguinage offers a quieter and more intimate experience. Worth including if you’re spending more than a few hours in the city. More info.
Ghent: Old Saint Elizabeth Beguinage
The oldest beguinage in Ghent, dating from 1234 and once home to 600 Beguines and 100 houses, fell into disrepair after the great move to Sint-Amandsberg in 1874. Partial renovation since 1984 has preserved the church, infirmary, infirmary chapel, 12 convents, and 62 of the original 103 beguine houses. It is now known as a ‘holy corner’ – a place of tolerance with Anglican, Orthodox, and Protestant churches alongside the original Catholic buildings. No longer walled, it is freely accessible. More info.
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Getting there
All the major UNESCO beguinages of Belgium are accessible by Belgian rail. Bruges, Ghent, Leuven, Kortrijk, Mechelen, Lier, Antwerp, and Dendermonde all have good train connections. Turnhout, Diest, Sint-Truiden, Tongeren, and Hoogstraten are more easily reached by car or bus.
Best for a first visit
Bruges and Leuven are the two unmissable beguinages for the first-time visitor; the former for atmosphere, the latter for scale. Both are easy day trips from Brussels.
Best for an off-the-beaten-path experience
I would recommend Lier, Turnhout, and Sint-Truiden; they definitely reward visitors who make the effort to reach them. They see far fewer tourists than Bruges or Ghent and give a more authentic sense of what these communities felt like.
UNESCO website
For the full official listing of all 13 inscribed beguinages of Belgium and their geographical locations, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and their page on Belgian beguinages.
Step through the gate
There is something that happens when you enter one of the beguinages of Belgium that no amount of reading quite prepares you for. The noise, pace, and general busyness of the city drops away almost immediately. You are inside a space that was designed, eight centuries ago, to hold a different kind of life. The cobblestones underfoot, the small houses behind their garden walls, the church at the centre of it all – everything creates an otherworldly experience.
So I encourage you to step through the gate. Listen to the city go quiet. Enjoy the peace of somewhere special.
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I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.