One of the prides of Lier is the “Beguinage” (Dutch : Begijnhof). It dates from the 13th century and ranks among the largest and most beautiful beguinages in Belgium. Beguinages were founded in most medieval cities of the low countries at the time of the crusades. A lot of women had lost their husbands and wanted to live in protected communities. Most of these women, however, did not want to join a convent or a monastery, where they had to make vows. In the beguinages, the ladies could live like nuns or sisters, without having to make vows that would tie them for the rest of their lives. The system of beguinages continued to exist in the low countries until this century. Most beguinages consisted of a group a small houses, which, together, formed a little separate village inside a city
One minute and he will be gone /
One of the prides of Lier is the “Beguinage” (Dutch : Begijnhof). It dates from the 13th century and ranks among the largest and most beautiful beguinages in Belgium. Beguinages were founded in most medieval cities of the low countries at the time of the crusades. A lot of women had lost their husbands and wanted to live in protected communities. Most of these women, however, did not want to join a convent or a monastery, where they had to make vows. In the beguinages, the ladies could live like nuns or sisters, without having to make vows that would tie them for the rest of their lives. The system of beguinages continued to exist in the low countries until this century. Most beguinages consisted of a group a small houses, which, together, formed a little separate village inside a city
Very calm picturesque little street in the Beguinage of Lier. / Very near the centre of the touristic town
The Pump Street derives its name from the pump built against the wall of house number 2. Before this house was built, a source bubbled at this very place. Hence the house was named “De Benedictie des Heren” (loosely, the Benevolence of God). In 1407, the house was a convent (place where beguines lived together). It was called “Woemelgheemshuse bij den grooten putte” (Woemelgheems House next to the big well). Historians think that already in the early 13th century, this house was a convent. In fact, it is the oldest kernel of the beguine movement in Flanders. It was only in 1240 that the beguinages of Leuven and Gent were founded
This is one of the smaller streets leading to a bigger street with higher houses for the richer beguines.
Entrance Porch of the Beguinage with statue of St Begga / /
Houses of the well-to-do Beguines
Miss Symphorosa, / a personage from the book:”The beautiful hours of Mlss Symphorosa, little beguine” written by Felix Timmermans, a well-known Flemish writer. / “De mooie uren van Juffrouw Symphorosa, begijntje” FT
A little peek at the river Dijle flowing through the beguinage in the Belgian city of Leuven. It’s a very pretty place, but it’s insanely rare to get the light just right for taking nice potographs when the sun is out. luckely this was such a time :)
A B/W for BSC1 / /
This is the front of a house in the biggest Beguinage street / /
A view of the smaller of the two beguinages in Leuven, Belgium. Only one street remains of this one. The tower in the background belongs to the former st Gertrudes monestary. it is regarded as one of the seven wonders of the city as no nails were used to construct the steeple.
An impression of the Beguinage in the Belgian city of Leuven. A beguinage was a community of unmarried woman who took several semi-religious vows (chastity and humility) but notably no vow of poverty. Their vows also did not last a lifetime and they could leave the beguinage whenever they wanted. They lived together in semi-closed neighbourhoods outside the town walls or at least outside the centre of town. They had their own houses (or shared a larger house among several women) and made a living by handwork or sometimes aquired some fortune by trading. Their origins are not entirely clear. Perhaps they originated as a protest against the openly frivolous lifestyle of medieval clergy. Another hypothesis links their origins to a lack of men due to the crusades and the wars that plagued the Europe of the high Middle Ages. Whatever their origins, they eventually developed into succesfull independant comunities.
Begijnhof (Beguinage) – Herentals The original beguinage was a large court in 1470 had over 300 beguines. / For strategic reasons, the old Beguinage during the Eighty Years War in 1578 by the State garrison demolished. After the Spanish authority Herentalsestraat was restored, the judge gave in 1590 permission to the Beguinage re-establish. As the polite Beguinage a new relative prosperity. In 1951, the last to Herentalsestraat begijnendijk professed. Now, there is unfortunately no begijnendijk more. / zoeken Canon 40D / ISO 200 – f/9.9 – 1/200s
Today we (Ellen, Hans, John, Jan and myself) had a RB-meeting in the city of Breda. / We enjoyed the weather, the sociability, the coffee, the beers, each other’s presence and….. o yes…...... we also have made some pictures like this one in the beguinage. Greetings from Netherlands, / Adri Exif: Camera Maker=NIKON CORPORATION / Camera Model=NIKON D80 / Lens=Nikkor 18-135mm / Software=Adobe Photoshop CS2 Windows / Exposure Time=1/125 sec / F-Number=F13,0 / ExposureProgram=Shutter priority / ISO=100 / Date Time Original=2009:08:06 14:11:57 / Metering Mode=Center / Focal Length=26,00 mm / User Comment=(C)ADRI PADMOS / ColorSpace=sRGB / Exif Image Width=3582 / Exif Image Length=2456 / ExposureMode=Auto / WhiteBalance=Auto / Contrast=Hard / Saturation=Normal / Sharpness=Hard
Yesterday, during our Dutch RB-meeting, we went for a walk through the old city of Breda (Holland). In the garden of the beguinage flourished beautiful flowers, including this thistle. Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Yesterday a couple of Dutch RB’ers made a trip to Breda, Holland. Most of us knew each other only of RB. / John44, Adri3, Ellen, Jan and myself. / We met at the ‘Grote Markt’ in Breda at a restaurant, called ‘Dante’. / After a few cappucino’s or some beer, we went for a walk trough the old city, visited a ‘Begijnenhof’ (beguinage) and a beautiful park. At this image you see Adri in action in the beguinage. Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Yesterday a couple of Dutch RB’ers made a trip to Breda, Holland. Most of us knew each other only of RB. / John44, Adri3, Ellen, Jan and myself. / We met at the ‘Grote Markt’ in Breda at a restaurant, called ‘Dante’. / After a few cappucino’s or some beer, we went for a walk trough the old city, visited a ‘Begijnenhof’ (beguinage) and a beautiful park. At this image you see Ellen in action in the beguinage. I was sitting on the second blue chair…. Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Here is another picture, made during our meeting in breda, Netherlands. / The beguinage is very colorful and photogenic, you see? Greetings from Netherlands, / Adri Exif: Camera Maker=NIKON CORPORATION / Camera Model=NIKON D80 / Lens=Nikkor 18-135mm / Exposure Time=1/60 sec / F-Number=F14,0 / ExposureProgram=Shutter priority / ISO=100 / Date Time Original=2009:08:06 14:16:06 / Metering Mode=Center / LightSource=Unidentified / User Comment=(C)ADRI PADMOS / ExposureMode=Auto / WhiteBalance=Auto
Hi folks, Here is another picture of the beguinage in the city of Breda, Netherlands. / This time here I captured some details before one of the houses of the beguinage. Greetings from Zeeland, Netherlands, / Adri Exif: Camera Maker=NIKON CORPORATION / Camera Model=NIKON D80 / Lens=Nikkor 18-135mm / Exposure Time=1/50 sec / F-Number=F5,0 / ExposureProgram=Shutter priority / ISO=200 / Date Time Original=2009:08:06 14:20:28 / Metering Mode=Center / Focal Length=44,00 mm / User Comment=(C)ADRI PADMOS / ExposureMode=Auto / WhiteBalance=Auto
Hi folks, / Here is another picture of the beguinage in the city of Breda, Netherlands. / This picture is made during the meeting of the Dutch RB-friends last week. / This picture is made with front light. Kind regards from Netherlands, / Adri Exif: Camera Maker=NIKON CORPORATION / Camera Model=NIKON D80 / Lens=Nikkor 18-135mm / Exposure Time=1/60 sec / F-Number=F22,0 / ExposureProgram=Shutter priority / ISO=100 / Date Time Original=2009:08:06 14:09:35 / Metering Mode=Center / Focal Length=18,00 mm / User Comment=(C)ADRI PADMOS / ExposureMode=Auto / WhiteBalance=Auto
During the RB-friends meeting in the city of Breda in the beguinage I saw this ladies bicycle. / To whom this bike belongs we will never know….... Exif: Camera Maker=NIKON CORPORATION / Camera Model=NIKON D80 / Lens=Nikkor 18-135mm / Exposure Time=1/60 sec / F-Number=F9,0 / ExposureProgram=Shutter priority / ISO=100 / Date Time Original=2009:08:06 14:02:18 / Metering Mode=MultiSegment / Focal Length=28,00 mm / User Comment=(C)ADRI PADMOS / ExposureMode=Auto / WhiteBalance=Auto
This is a digital painting of a small street in the Beguinage of Lier near Antwerp – Belgium
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