Medal: for the excellent restoration, employing the highest level of technical expertise, of the badly neglected 'beguinage dwellings' by private initiative, made possible by the imaginative creation of special leaseholds.

In the 12th and 13th centuries in various European countries charitable orders were born as a form of protest against abuses within the church and the society. One of these movements was established by the beguines. They were religious women, banned everywhere but tolerated in the Low Countries, where they lived together in so-called beguinages, a kind of walled enclaves within the towns. They promised obedience for the duration of their membership of the beguinage, which they could leave at any time. They were not required to take vows of poverty and allowed to keep their possessions. Wealthier members built or bought themselves a dwelling in the beguinage, the less well off lived together in the 'convent house' or the 'infirmary'. Despite great differences in status, all beguines had the same rights and obligations and formed a very democratic society.

The Hoogstraten beguinage, was established in 1340 and initially had nine half-timbered dwellings with mud walls and thatched roofs. Over the centuries it was several times destroyed by fire, rebuilt and extended. In the 17th century, the beguinage flourished and achieved its present appearance: a complex of 62 whitewashed stone houses, a monumental baroque church, a convent house, an infirmary and a gatehouse, inhabited by 178 women. The buildings were grouped around two squares, the older part around the bleaching meadow, and the new part around the orchard. Decline set in at the time of the French Revolution. The church was reduced to storing hay, and the beguinage's properties were seized. After the French period, the beguinage was handed over to the almshouse administration, and later to the Public Centre for Social Welfare. Funds for its maintenance were lacking, and in 1831, nine houses were demolished, followed by a further fourteen in 1899. In 1979 a major restoration project was finally launched by the Public Centre for Social Welfare. All the residents had to leave, but the project was delayed and followed by years of indecision. In the meanwhile, the beguinage had fallen into total ruin. A few people were still living there, in reduced circumstances, and demolition was seriously considered.

Indignation over the situation prompted some inhabitants of the village to intervene. on their initiative the association 'Het Convent', named after the beguinage's former communal house, was formed and on 27 February 1992 they officially declared their interest in restoring the complex. They negotiated with the owner, the municipal authority, a unique leasehold agreement. In their opinion an important cultural heritage site should not be taken away from the community as a whole, and they obtained full possession over the beguinage for a leasehold period of 99 years. They then looked for and selected thirty-four families, forming a true cross-section of the population, each as leaseholder unconditionally guaranteeing the restoration of one dwelling. As an association, they together restored communal areas, such as the beguinage's surrounding wall, outbuildings and green areas, the chapels and three dwellings to house an exhibition area and meeting rooms. Clear agreements were drawn up before the 34 members of 'Het Convent' signed their lease. A covenant was agreed for each dwelling, in which the restoration philosophy and all the obligations were clearly specified, in close co-operation with the Monuments and Landscapes Administration and strictly in accordance with the principles of the Venice Charter. The authenticity and original function of the building were respected, the basic structure of the dwellings and any valuable elements were retained, whilst the facilities were modernised. Desirable additions were carried out in a reversible way and were distinguished by their contemporary style.

The restoration of the Hoogstraten beguinage is not only exemplary in itself, but also for the way in which it has been achieved. Apart from being a complex of buildings, the beguinage was a co-operative community with its own social welfare structure, and with the present restoration a form of communal living has been reinstated. The well-deserved recognition by Europa Nostra was preceded by other prizes: in 1997, the project won the Flemish Monuments Prize, followed in 1998 by the Henry Ford European Conservation Award. On 2 December 1998, Hoogstraten's beguinage was included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Owner: vzw Het Convent (for a leasehold period of 99 years)
Architects: Several, co-ordinated by Het Convent and Herman Andriaensens
Building Contractors: Gebr. Joosen and many others
Opening Hours: The complex is always open to the public. The museum is open from Wednesday - Sunday from 14.00 - 17.00 hours