Beguinage Turnhout, living under ducal protection

The early-medieval settlement of Turnhout was located near a small stream on a crossroads of ancient routes. It was originally surrounded by woodland and copse, hence the name that translates as "thorny wood". Later the name was explained as Torenhout (Tower in the woods), because a hunting lodge of the Dukes of Brabant stood here from about 1080 AD. Duke Henry I of Brabant granted the settlement its city charter in 1212 and a large square market place was laid out near the older trade routes. In 1338 the town received its charter for a Saturday market. About a hundred years later the town had grown into an important settlement with no less than 5 churches and several convents. Much like Hoogstraten, the town was never secured by city walls, although a paling or wooden fence is likely erected around the freedom. This trade town also had a Beguinage where pious single women lived together in relative seclusion.

Much like the Beguinages in Lierre and Breda the Beguinage of Turnhout was located near a stronghold of the local lord. It is unclear when the Beguinage was first founded, but this is most probably in the latter half of the twelfth century - well before the first record in 1340. Both the close proximity to the caste of the Dukes of Brabant and the close involvement of several duchesses are strong indications of a strong link between the ducal overlord and the Beguinage. It was most likely founded on land granted by the duke on the edge of his chase or hunting forest directly north of the moated castle. The hunting forest was brought under cultivation, so by the 15th century only a small deer park (de Warande) remained. The 1777 Ferraris Map shows a formal layout with a star wood (sterrenbos) and a paling around it.

The Beguinage of Turnhout is located directly adjacent to this Warande. In 1372 Mary of Brabant, Duchess of Guelders and Mistress of Turnhout grants the Beguines several freedoms. Her sister Joanna affirms and expands these rights in 1399. At this time there already was an infirmary within the walled precinct. In 1415 the alter in a small church was consecrated. Several chapels followed (1418, 1419 and 1478). By 1480 the Beguinage comprised of 18 houses. By 1526 this number had grown to 28. A fire devastates a large part of the wooden Beguinage as well as part of the Warande in 1562. The Beguinage is slowly rebuilt in stone. In 1624 the small church is enlarged. Until 1642 the Beguinage reached just beyond the north gate.

From 1643 onwards the facility was greatly enlarged on the west side by a grant of over 1200 square yards of land by Philip IV of Spain. The enlargement was financed by the bequest of  a large landholding in 1656. A new church was erected in the new section of the Beguinage starting in 1662. By 1666 the church was completed with several new cottages for Beguines and a new infirmary. In 1693 a new convent (a type of shared accommodation) for destitute women was founded within the walled precinct by the Beguinage priest. Some 360 women lived within the Beguinage of Turnhout around 1700. This is quite amazing as the town of Turnhout had become less important with the secession of the Northern Netherlands in 1581 which lead to many of the merchants, cloth makers and weavers resettling in Tilburg within the new Dutch Republic. The women within the Beguinage made their living by teaching French and home economics in private schools and by making lace.

The Beguinage now comprises of 80 cottages and houses. It is a Beguinages of the square type with at the centre a large garden come bleachfield that was planted as an ornamental garden in the 19th century. The first building phase (F1) in the east, with an expansion in the 1600s (F2). Originally 3 gates of which two remain (g). the central space was used as a bleaching field (b) with at the site of the old church a Calvary Statue (1796 - c) and at the site of the former Bospoort (= Wood Gate) the Lourdes Grotto (1876 - lg). Begind the Beguine Church (BC) a kitchen garden (kg) has been recreated. Directly north a small orchard (o) remains. The Chapel of the Holy Countenance (Heilig Aanzicht - HA) was built in the corner of the new precinct in 1885. Similarly a chapel belonging to the Friars of Love for Jesus built their school and chapel directly adjacent. The Chapel Corpus Cristianorum (CC) can be reached through an alley from inside the Beguinage. Next to the main gate two gate keeper cottages (1) were built. Probably the oldest part of the Beguinage is at the House of the Holy Spirit (2) aimed at providing care for destitute women. Further along the Convent of St Anne functioned as a boarding school for girls. In contrast the Convent of St Joseph (5) provided rooms for new beguines or novices. The Foundation Mermans (5) used to house destitute women from around Turnhout. It is now in use a s a museum. The second infirmary (6) was built to replace the burnt down earlier facility (located west of 2). Within the confines of the Beguinage a Rectory (7) was built in 1648. This is unique as the male priest was as a rule not allowed to reside in a Beguinage.  

After a short period (1795-1818) under French rule when all religious institutions were banned, the Beguinage never reached its 18th century peak. After 1950 the Beguinage declined. It is now owned by the City of Turnhout. The Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) now rents out most of the cottages, other houses have been sold as lease-hold properties. In this way the Beguinage still serves its original propose of making decent accommodation within the city available to people of modest means. Directly north of the Beguinage on the site of a former orchard and meadow belonging to the Beguines a Housing Society built a small ensemble of social housing known as the Saint Begga Quarter around the Beggaplein (BP)  in the first half of the 1950s. On the edge of these so-called Beguine Fields (Begijnevelden - BV) the Lazar House (Pesthuis) once stood.