Guesthouse PoortAckere

This former monastery offers rooms in the centre of Ghent, only 10 minutes’ walk from the Belfry. PoortAckere dates from 1278 and offers unique character, free Wi-Fi and a garden terrace.

Guesthouse PoortAckere benefits from a range of rooms, including the old nun’s cells, situated throughout the historic building. Some of the rooms have a shared bathroom.

The restaurant serves elegant cuisine in the dining hall which features a high arched ceiling and gothic windows. There is also a drinks menu featuring a range of beers to compliment the dishes offered.

Alijn House and the Design Museum are both within a 10-minute walk from the monastery. PoortAckere Guesthouse is 45 minutes’ drive from Brugge.

Rooms: 20
Rate: 46 - 95 EUR

Like many towns in the Middle Ages, Ghent was enclosed by several canals. These were meant to protect the town from the dangers that threatened its inhabitants. Near the gate ("poort" in dutch) to the town there was a field ("akker" in dutch): the Poortackere.

In this field a complex for beguines was built, which was also called Poortackere by the people of Ghent. In one of the walls of the building there is an 18th century stone which reveals that the beguine house was founded in 1278. Not long after this, a chapel and a churchyard were added. Poortackere mainly housed older and sick beguines.

During the French revolution all cloisters, churches and beguin complexes were seized by the town councils, so the council of Ghent confiscated Poortackere. In 1863 the site was sold to the Count Joseph de Hemptinne, a notorious maecenas of the Neogothic Movement. With his permission, a congregation was housed here.

At first there were plans to restore the old buildings, but in the end a new, neogothic cloister was built. Most buildings of Poortackere date from that period. A new chapel, two inside gardens and an orphanage became part of the complex.

After World War II the site was an orphanage, a house for young women and a student residence. In 1998 there were still 6 nuns living here, but the maintenance costs became too much, so the buildings were sold.

Thanks to private initiative, the site has been transformed into a hotel, guest rooms and a restaurant. As a result, everybody can now enjoy the architecture and the special atmosphere.

A feeling of peace, freedom and unconcern comes over you in the more austere neogothic part of the site, the Guest-house. Perhaps you will sleep in the St Cecilia room or the monastery cell where sister Philomena stayed for so many years.

In the "Kapittelzaal" (chapter house) looking on to the garden culinary delights await you. You can enjoy your breakfast or a relaxed diner served under the tracery of neogothic arches.

Situated in the hart of the old city centre of Ghent, 500 m. from the famous towers and the shopping areas.

Coming from Calais - Oostende - Brugge (E40):
take the exit Gent West (n° 13) and follow the indications "Gent centrum" via the yellow parking route (direction Sint-Michielsparking). You will arrive in the "Hoogstraat". Take the last street on your right hand side, which is "Oude Houtlei". Monasterium PoortAckere is situated halfway on your right hand side.

Coming from Brussels (E40) or Antwerp (E17):
take the exit Gent Centrum and follow the yellow indications "Parkeerroute Gravensteen / Sint-Michiels.

From the train station:
take tram n° 21 or 22, take exit "Oude Houtlei". The first street to the left is the "Oude Houtlei". Our guesthouse is situated in the middle of this street.