The Groot Begijnhof is one of the largest and best-preserved beguinages in Flanders. Founded in 1258, it grew into a self-contained community of brick houses, gardens, and a church arranged around quiet cobbled streets — a small town within the town. Today the beguinage is still inhabited, maintaining an atmosphere of calm that stands in sharp contrast to the bustle outside its gates.
Walk in through the entrance portal and the mood shifts immediately. The houses date mainly from the 17th century, all in the same warm red brick, with modest stoops and window boxes. The Baroque church at the centre has a dignified interior with carved woodwork and old paintings. This is not a museum but a living neighbourhood — keep noise down and respect the residents. The beguinage is a five-minute walk south of the Grote Markt.