Béguinage - Begijnhof

A part of the port area formerly belonged to the Big Béguinage - Begijnhof (founded in 1250), with the baroque St John the Baptist Church (1676) in the middle. At the end of the 18th century the possessions of the convent were transferred to the Council of the Almshouses. A large neoclassical guesthouse took the place of the infirmary. The Pacheco Institute is now situated here. In the Rue du Béguinage - Begijnhofstraat some Beguine houses are still left (numbers 9 and 15-17).