Beguinages

Most still-existing beguinages are situated in the Northern part of Belgium. There are however no longer any beguines.
In the early middle-ages most beguines worked in the textile industry of the cities. It was not a religious movement exclusively for poor and needy women. Very often, girls from rich and noble families joined the beguine community. They were then very often chosen to become "Grand mistress of the Beguinage" and they lived in the nicest houses, whereas the poorer beguines lived in the "convents" which were small houses were several of them lived together.