Our-Lady Ter Hooyen
Encyclopedia
The small beguinage O.L.V. Ter Hooyen is situated in southern area of Ghent
. This beguinage was built on the ‘Groene Hooie’, between the ‘Hooipoort’ and the ‘Vijfwindgatenpoort’. That is how this little beguinage got its name.
they started building 2 beguinages in 1234. They were founded by the countesses Johanna and Margaretha of Flanders
. A large part of the beguinage leaned against the city wall. It gave shelter to the beguines coming from small nobility and the newly formed middle class.
The beguinage as it is now dates mostly of the 17th and 18th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was partly restored, but the restorations are hardly noticeable.
With the French occupation of Belgium the beguinage with all it possessions became property of the Commissie der Burgerlijke Godshuizen van de Stad Gent. And in 1801 it was a legitimately acknowledged religious community. In the year 1862 the Duke of Arenberg
bought the entire beguinage from the Commission.
After WWI the duke had to relinquish his rights because he was a German citizen.
And then finally in 1925, the newly founded non-profit organisation Begijnhof O.L.V. Ter Hoyen bought the entire beguinage complex. The beguinage became a protected monument on October 30, 1963.
and dates from 1819. It is the only point of entrance and exit. All the buildings are situated within the walls of the beguinage.
The lawn in the courtyard is surrounded by lime trees and beech trees. The surrounding buildings have white walls and green little gates. geheel mee.
The church is a dedicated to our Lady. It was built between 1654-1658 and in 1716 it was given a baroque façade. The image of the horsemen refers to the Apocalypse
and is situated against the south wall. The seven stations of the circumambulation in honour of our Lady of the Seven Sorrows testify to the devotion of the citizens.
The building where the Mistress of the beguines and her staff lived is situated in the northern corner of the beguinage. There you also find the farm and the hospital with the chapel dedicated to Saint Godelieve.
Around the beguinage pasture and the ‘Achterstraat’ are about 100 houses and 7 convents, all of which bear the name of a saint. Most of the houses have a little front yard, enclosed by a high wall and a gate with a peephole. All the houses have one storey and an attic, some of them also have a basement and a little back yard.
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. This beguinage was built on the ‘Groene Hooie’, between the ‘Hooipoort’ and the ‘Vijfwindgatenpoort’. That is how this little beguinage got its name.
The history of the small beguinage O.L.V. Ter Hooyen in Ghent
In Western-Europe the era of the beguinages started in the 12th century. In GhentGhent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
they started building 2 beguinages in 1234. They were founded by the countesses Johanna and Margaretha of Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. A large part of the beguinage leaned against the city wall. It gave shelter to the beguines coming from small nobility and the newly formed middle class.
The beguinage as it is now dates mostly of the 17th and 18th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was partly restored, but the restorations are hardly noticeable.
With the French occupation of Belgium the beguinage with all it possessions became property of the Commissie der Burgerlijke Godshuizen van de Stad Gent. And in 1801 it was a legitimately acknowledged religious community. In the year 1862 the Duke of Arenberg
Arenberg
Arenberg, also spelled as Aremberg or Ahremberg, is a historic county, principality and finally duchy located in modern Germany. The Dukes of Arenberg remain a prominent Belgian aristocratic family.- History :...
bought the entire beguinage from the Commission.
After WWI the duke had to relinquish his rights because he was a German citizen.
And then finally in 1925, the newly founded non-profit organisation Begijnhof O.L.V. Ter Hoyen bought the entire beguinage complex. The beguinage became a protected monument on October 30, 1963.
The architecture of the beguinage
The gate is neoclassicalNeoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
and dates from 1819. It is the only point of entrance and exit. All the buildings are situated within the walls of the beguinage.
The lawn in the courtyard is surrounded by lime trees and beech trees. The surrounding buildings have white walls and green little gates. geheel mee.
The church is a dedicated to our Lady. It was built between 1654-1658 and in 1716 it was given a baroque façade. The image of the horsemen refers to the Apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
and is situated against the south wall. The seven stations of the circumambulation in honour of our Lady of the Seven Sorrows testify to the devotion of the citizens.
The building where the Mistress of the beguines and her staff lived is situated in the northern corner of the beguinage. There you also find the farm and the hospital with the chapel dedicated to Saint Godelieve.
Around the beguinage pasture and the ‘Achterstraat’ are about 100 houses and 7 convents, all of which bear the name of a saint. Most of the houses have a little front yard, enclosed by a high wall and a gate with a peephole. All the houses have one storey and an attic, some of them also have a basement and a little back yard.
External links
- http://users.telenet.be/kleinbegijnhof/
- http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_Begijnhof_(Gent)
- http://www.samsongilbert.be/KleinBegynhof.html
- http://www.belgiumview.com/belgiumview/tl1/view0004564.php4