Monastery Houtem

In 1879, when Mgr. Bracq commissioned Mother Vincentia, superior of the Sisters of the Risen Saviour in Sint Niklaas, to establish a school in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, a few rooms on a farm were soon converted into classrooms. Shortly afterwards, the school welcomed 17 boys and 23 girls. Their number soon grew, necessitating the erection of a new building. In 1880 there were already 260 children in school. A Sunday school for girls and adult women was not opened until the year 1883. The following year the first 9 interns came in and three years later there were already 200 girls. In 1900 a boarding school for boys was established. In 1926 there was a department "Vocational and Trade School", which in 1950, already consisted of nine classes for about 200 pupils.

Laura Van Geyt