Begijnhof Oudenaarde

Oudenaarde, pearl of the Flemish Ardennes. Home of the Koppenberg and the Center Tour of Flanders. But did you know that Oudenaarde also has a beguinage? Walk through the stately gate, flanked by the plague saint, Saint Roch, and discover the white-painted 17th-century houses. In this oasis of peace you can enjoy the attractive courtyard gardens full of plants and flowers. You can visit the beguinage freely during the day.

Beguines in Oudenaarde
Originally, the beguines stayed behind the Sint-Walburgakerk. In the 15th century they were housed at the present site. In the past, the beguinage was completely surrounded by water. Striking is the colorful baroque gate with the image of Saint Rochus, a plague saint. Most small white houses were rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries; only a few date from the 17th century. The last beguine died in 1960.

iconoclasts
During the second phase of the iconoclasm from August 20 to August 27, 1566, the 16th-century chapel was destroyed by the iconoclasts but later rebuilt. The oldest building dates from 1500 and was the residence of the rector, Mr Van de Velde, who was thrown into the Scheldt by the beggars and drowned.

Current destination
Since 2004, the houses have been systematically converted into service flats for pensioners by the non-profit association Begijnhof Oudenaarde.[1]

No UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site
The 26 Flemish beguinages are highly exceptional and bear witness to universal value; they were therefore proposed in October 1998 to be included in the list of monuments of the World Heritage.

The following beguinages were proposed in the province of East Flanders: Aalst, Dendermonde, Ghent (Groot and Klein Begijnhof, and Sint-Amandsberg) and Oudenaarde. Thirteen Flemish beguinages of this list were eventually included on 02/12/1998.
These beguinages were presented to the UNESCO ICOMOS Committee and inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List because they are representative examples of the group of beguinages: five of the urban type (a), four of the square type (b) and four of the mixed type (c). In the province of East Flanders: Dendermonde (b), Ghent Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ter Hoye (c), Sint-Amandsberg (a).
See UNESCO World Heritage List.
nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begijnhof_Oudenaarde

Originally Begijnhof in Oudenaarde it was behind the Sint Walburgakerk. In the year 1449, beguines got a new house, at the current location. They have lived here for centuries. The last of them died in 1960.
Initially beguinage it was completely surrounded by the Scheldt. The only entrance was through a red-painted Baroque gate with a statue of St. Roch, patron of infectious diseases.
Beguinage de Oudenaarde consists of about thirty whitewashed houses, grouped around courtyards. Only a few of these date back to the 17th century, the rest were rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. During the iconoclasm in 1566, the 16th-century chapel in the Begijnhof area was destroyed. Currently there is a Gothic Revival chapel in the place.

Source: nl.belgiazwiedzanie.com/oudenaarde.html