The Borgloon beguinage was built around the chapel of the Johannietershospital in Graethem, near the city gate. This chapel is the burial place of Louis I († 1171), Count of Loon and his wife Agnes, who is mentioned twice in the St. Servatius legend by Hendrik van Veldeke. The tomb was preserved until around 1860. In 1174, widowed Agnes donated the hospital and all dependent goods to the abbey of Villers; she endows it with her grounds as Witch. After some time, Beguines began to settle around the hospital; A beguinage was finally established in 1258 or 1259. The Villers Abbey retains the right to patronize the chapel and the right to appoint the nine Beguines. In 1582, this right was transferred to the Saint Lambert Chapter of Liège. From 1500 onwards, the city council appointed a guesthouse master at the hospital. In 1654, the nine Beguines' houses were burned down by Lorraine troops during the siege of the city. The Beguines rebuild their houses with the income of their prebends and the alms from the cathedral of Liège. Around 1714 the hospital had deteriorated to such an extent that it was transferred to the other side of the road; In 1784 it was taken over by the city's poor council. By decree of November 25, 1797, the beguinage came under the management of the Office of Benevolence. In 1802 the beguinage was turned into a retirement home; there were four more Beguines staying there at the time. In 1814 the chapel was opened for public worship. Construction of the old men's house started between 1836 and 1844; an enlargement took place between 1868-1872, a later enlargement in 1891 and 1896 after a design by E. Serrure. In 1846 a girls' school was added to this complex; the latter, led by the Sisters of Charity, only functioned there until 1849, when it was transferred to the old Brigittine convent. In 1911, a new chapel was built at the elders' home. The beguinage chapel is said to have been used as a schoolroom for several years.