The Leuven Groot Begijnhof was most likely established around 1232 as a community of religious women who settled outside the then city walls, on the riverbanks of the Dijle. The original small craftwork houses with clay fillings and straw roofs were gradually replaced by brick houses that can still be seen today and most of which date from the 17th century. With its construction beginning in 1305, the early Gothic Siant-John-the-Baptist Church is the oldest building in the Beguinage. In 1962, the University of Leuven acquired the entire estate, with the exception of the church and a couple of houses that were only later transferred to the university. The first restoration phase took place between 1963 and 1972 under the leadership of the late professor Raymond Lemaire. During the second phase (1985-1990), the restoration of the houses in the Begijnhofkerkstraat was completed by professor Paul Van Aerschot