Ten Wijngaerde

Ten Wijngaerde is the princely beguinage of Bruges, the only preserved beguinage remaining in the city. It is a place where the quiet of an enclosed garden meets a long history of a religious community of women who lived here outside the strict framework of monastic vows.

What is the Ten Wijngaerde beguinage?

Beguinages are a form of religious community particular to the Low Countries — clusters of houses inhabited by beguines, women who led a religious life without taking permanent monastic vows. Ten Wijngaerde in Bruges is today the only beguinage still standing in the city, which alone makes it a distinctive site on the map of Bruges.

Do beguines still live at Ten Wijngaerde today?

No. The beguine tradition at this site has ended, but the grounds and buildings were not abandoned. Since 1927, Ten Wijngaerde has functioned as a convent for Benedictine nuns. The convent was founded by canon Hoornaert, meaning the site did not disappear from the religious life of Bruges but changed character — from a beguinage to a Benedictine community.

What changed in 1927?

The year 1927 marked a turning point for Ten Wijngaerde. Besides the founding of the Benedictine convent, the houses on the west side of the complex were reshaped and enlarged. This work gave rise to the Monasterium De Wijngaard, a priory of Benedictine nuns that became the new centre of religious life on the grounds of the former beguinage. This transformation shows how the site's older, semi-secular beguine function was adapted into a fully monastic framework.

Why is this site worth visiting in Bruges?

Ten Wijngaerde stands at the point where the history of the beguine movement meets a monastic tradition that continues to this day. This continuity is unusual — many former beguinages across Europe have been converted into museums, private housing, or public spaces, whereas here the religious function was never interrupted, only transformed. For anyone interested in the history of religious life in Flanders, this is a site with a rare degree of continuity.

Where exactly is Ten Wijngaerde located?

The complex lies in Bruges, Belgium, at approximately 51.2°N, 3.22°E — in the heart of this historic Flemish city, known for its well-preserved medieval urban layout.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ten Wijngaerde still a beguinage today? Formally, it is the only preserved beguinage in Bruges, although beguines no longer live there — since 1927 the site has served as a convent for Benedictine nuns.

Who founded the current convent? The Benedictine convent at Ten Wijngaerde was founded by canon Hoornaert in 1927.

What is the Monasterium De Wijngaard? It is a priory of Benedictine nuns established in 1927 in the reshaped and enlarged houses on the west side of the former beguinage.

Is this the only beguinage in Bruges? Yes, Ten Wijngaerde is the only preserved beguinage remaining in Bruges.