Mechelen (Malines) has 2 beguinages - the small one, and the large one. The oldest one is the small beguinage which dates back from the 13th century. As it became too small, a second, larger beguinage was established outside the city walls, but older and infirm beguines remained inside the walls, which explains the existence of the two beguinages..
In past times, Mechelen harboured as many as 2,000 beguines, but they have now all gone, and their historic houses have become prized accommodation for independent professions.
Not much remains of the small beguinage, but it has been beautifully restored. Nearby, you can find the 14th century Gothic church of St Catherine - a church for the poor with rather sober decoration.
Nothing remains of the original large beguinage outside the walls which was destroyed around 1560. The beguines returned to the centre, to what is known today as the large beguinage. Much more remains of this 16th century beguinage, but unlike those from Antwerp, Louvain and Bruges, the Mechelen beguinage does not offer a site preserved in its integrity. The buildings in brick and sandstone date back from the 16th to 18th century.
The closed character of the beguinages of Mechelens, as it can be experienced in other cities, can only be sensed through the narrow streets of the quarter. The gates that once separated the large beguinage from the outside world were destroyed in the late 18th century, and increasingly, regular people started to occupy the houses in the beguinage.
Near the large beguinage, which is only a few 100 meters distance from the small one, you find another church - St Alexius and St Catharina - a baroque church from the 17th century with much richer and well preserved decoration.
Nearby you can also find the brewery Het Anker, which produces the Gouden Carolus beers, continuing a tradition of over 400 years.
