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Mechelen (locally pronounced is a Dutch-speaking city and municipality in the province of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The Groot Begijnhof (UNESCO World Heritage ID 855-003) (Small and Large Béguinages). The Béguines were women who dedicated their lives to God without retiring from the world. In the 13th century they founded thebéguinages , enclosed communities designed to meet their spiritual and material needs. The Flemishbéguinages are architectural ensembles composed of houses, churches, ancillary buildings and green spaces, with a layout of either urban or rural origin and built in styles specific to the Flemish cultural region. They are a fascinating reminder of the tradition of the Béguines that developed in north-western Europe in the Middle Ages.