Begijnhof

The Begijnhof (Beguinage) is a walled enclosure a short walk south of the city centre, sheltering a cluster of whitewashed 17th-century houses around a grassy courtyard. It is one of the quietest places in Bruges, particularly on weekday mornings, and the contrast with the crowded centre is striking. The Benedictine sisters who now live here observe a rule of silence that visitors are asked to respect.

One of the small houses has been opened as a museum showing how the Beguines lived; the rest are inhabited by the sisters. The Begijnhof is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the network of Flemish Beguinages. Entry to the courtyard is free; the museum has a small charge.

things to do sight
A story
The Beguines were a medieval religious movement of women who lived in community without taking formal monastic vows — they could own property, return to secular life, and were not subject to a male superior. The movement was viewed with suspicion by the Church precisely because of this independence; Beguines were periodically accused of heresy. The last Beguine in Bruges died in 1927, and the enclosure is now occupied by Benedictine nuns who maintain the same way of life.