Beguinage with church Saint John the Evangelist

The beguinage of Hoogstraten consists of 36 houses, a baroque three-aisled beguinage church, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist and a barn.
The beguinage was founded around 1380. In the 16th century, the beguines had to deal with several fires, including on Maundy Thursday of 1506 when, except for the church, the entire complex was destroyed. In 1534 the court was surrounded by a stone wall.
At the beginning of the 17th century there were two beguines. This number rose to 160 by the end of the 17th century. In 1972 the last beguine, Johanna van den Wijngaard, left the beguinage.
In 1992, a number of residents of Hoogstraten decided to restore the court. Since 1997, the beguinage has been fully inhabited again.
The Conventshuis houses the Stedelijk Museum with a permanent collection and changing exhibitions.
The beguinage of Hoogstraten is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Historische Routes