Not many people have looked inside the beautiful orphanage for girls founded in Antwerp’s Lange Gasthuisstraat. The building dating from 1564 was once filled with young girls who had lost their parents. But it has served as a museum since 1884.
The renaissance interior is home to a collection of religious paintings and sculptures by some of the city’s great artists, including Jordaens and Van Dyck.
Even if you don’t go inside, take a look at the renaissance carvings above the entrance illustrating girls being admitted to the orphanage and sitting in a classroom.
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.
