Begijnhof Diest in Belgium

has become a cultural centre, all very sad. They now offer T'ai Chi courses. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were about 6000 Beguines. At the time of Vatican II, 600 approximately. I have met the last surviving member of a Beguine community, a Franciscan who joined the community of Kortrijk. She moved to a nursing home. The last full Beguine died in January this year. As far as I am aware, there are no others.