Hidden behind a high brick wall is one of the most secret gardens in Antwerp.
It belongs to the Begijnhof, a secluded religious community of white houses and cobbled lanes established for single women in 1544.
The last Beguine died here in 1986, but the 17th-century houses have survived. The garden in the middle, enclosed by a hedge, was once a burial ground. It is now a romantic spot with benches, weathered statues and a few pear trees.
Derek Blyth’s hidden secret of the day: Derek Blyth is the author of the bestselling “The 500 Hidden Secrets of Belgium”. He picks out one of his favourite hidden secrets for The Brussels Times every day.
