Klooster Der Zusters Van De Heilige Vincentius

The Convent of the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul in Gits, a district of the municipality of Hooglede in West Flanders, is a historic convent complex at Gitsbergstraat 17 that served for decades as the motherhouse of its religious congregation.

How did this convent come to be, and what happened to it over the years?

The complex was built in 1879 as the main house of the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul, a congregation active in education and care work throughout the region. During the First World War the building was occupied by German troops, which caused serious damage to the structure. In 1933 the convent was rebuilt, incorporating surviving older sections into the new construction, so the site retained something of its original character despite the wartime destruction.

At its peak in 1970, the convent housed around one hundred sisters. The community shrank significantly over the following decades — by 2019 only sixteen sisters remained, leaving much of the large complex standing empty. This decline prompted discussions between the congregation and local authorities about a new future for the site.

A turning point came with a notarial deed signed on 7 December 2022, through which the sisters transferred most of their land to the municipality of Hooglede — roughly 1.61 hectares in total, while retaining 0.35 hectares for themselves. The donated land comprised the main convent site (1 hectare, 31 ares and 1 centiare), school grounds (24 ares and 70 centiares, leased to the STAHO school group until 19 July 2056), and a residential building (6 ares and 5 centiares, also under lease to STAHO).

What does the convent building look like?

The convent's architecture consists of two parallel wings facing the street, linked by connecting sections that enclose an interior courtyard. The whole complex is built in red brick, typical of Flemish religious architecture of the period. Above the entrance portal rises a tower topped with a gable roof, forming the dominant feature of the building's silhouette. A chapel stands adjacent to the main complex on the grounds.

Around the buildings, a garden walkway was laid out featuring depictions of Our Lady of Sorrows along with a Lourdes grotto — elements typical of convent grounds of the era, intended for prayer and quiet reflection.

What will happen to the convent in the future?

Under the terms of the donation, the transferred land may only be used for purposes of public benefit. The municipality plans to build a new school building on the site, along with after-school childcare facilities, a local service center, and a large public park for residents to enjoy.

Once construction of a new, smaller convent for the sisters is complete, the municipality intends to demolish the original building. The chapel is the one exception: it is to be preserved and repurposed as a multifunctional facility serving the local community. In this way, a site with more than a century and a half of religious and educational history is set to take on new life as a public space for the people of Hooglede.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the convent located? At Gitsbergstraat 17 in Gits, a district of the municipality of Hooglede in the province of West Flanders.

When was the convent built? The main building dates from 1879 and was rebuilt in 1933 after damage sustained during the First World War.

Is the convent still active? The religious community has shrunk considerably, and most of the land was transferred to the municipality in 2022 for redevelopment as public facilities.

What will be kept after the redevelopment? The convent chapel is planned to be preserved and converted into a multifunctional building for local residents.