Engels Klooster, Protected monastery in Bruges, Belgium.
Engels Klooster is a monastery in Bruges with multiple structures dating from the 17th to 20th century. The complex includes a chapel, living quarters, and archive spaces that reflect the daily life of the religious community.
English nuns founded this monastery in 1629 as a refuge during Catholic persecution in England. After fleeing to Britain during political unrest, the community returned to Bruges in the early 1800s.
The monastery served as a refuge for English nuns and holds manuscripts from Belgian writers whose works are still stored in the archives today. The rooms reflect how religious life and literary work were intertwined here.
The monastery's chapel is open to visitors and provides access to religious objects including a relic of Saint Thomas More. Entry to the chapel is straightforward and a visit can be made without extensive preparation.
This monastery is the only English convent that returned to the Low Countries after its members fled to Britain. The fact that the sisters maintained their roots here rather than resettling elsewhere makes them a rare historical exception.
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