Beguinage of Herentals

The Beguinage of Herentals is a religious complex built around a Gothic church dedicated to Saint Catherine, with rows of modest residential houses arranged along a single cobblestone street. The layout creates an enclosed village-like atmosphere, with private gardens and spaces designed for a small community.

This community was established in 1266 as a religious settlement near the city's old hospital. The original site was destroyed during the Eighty Years' War, prompting its relocation to Burchtstraat in 1590.

The women who lived here chose a religious life without taking permanent vows or surrendering their belongings to a convent. This way of living offered them spiritual devotion combined with personal independence and property ownership.

The church at the center opens during summer months and the grounds are easily explored on foot through the narrow lanes. The compact layout means you can see the entire complex in about an hour at a relaxed pace.

A house dating to 1657 displays a carved stone relief of the Holy Family on its outer wall. This sculptural detail reveals how residents expressed their faith through the decorative elements of their modest homes.