A little off the beaten path of Belgian tourism lies a gem of Art Nouveau and historical buildings: a school known as de Ursulinen. Historically a place where the international elite sent their daughters to be educated. Although the school was ran by nuns, it didn’t just teach girls how to become good wives. They learned how to sew, mend and other home (economics) related subjects, they were also educated in languages and science in order to prepare them for university and possibly become doctors or lawyers.
The town of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Waver is not exactly a place known for its cultural significance, especially not a few centuries ago. (Fun fact: thanks to the popularity of the school, the village received a train station and was hooked to the electricity net of the nearest large town.) So the nuns running it dazzled parents looking to potentially enroll their children with the splendor and beauty of the building and especially: their winter garden (wintertuin), which is still the crown piece and major draw.
Even though the winter garden is stunning, it is not the only attraction of the building. It has been wonderfully kept in all its historical glory, so everything from plant pots to leaded windows look like they did back then.
Every visitor is given an audio guide. Of, if you prefer, a catalog of the building with the entire text written out. I used the guide book, but my husband — and Never Was photographer — Bert chose the audio guide, and he said it was done really well.
You are guided throughout several sections, offices, the winter garden and even classrooms. Some fun and interactive points are built into the tour, so you can get more acquainted with the history of the school in a manner that is enjoyable whether you are a child or an adult.
A few things you should know. Ticket reservations must be made very far in advance, as they purposely keep visitor numbers low so people can really take their time and properly see everything.
The entire ground floor, including the winter garden, is fully accessible, but sadly, Belgium being Belgium, governmental red tape has prevented them from installing an elevator. You can request the tablet experience, so you can digitally participate. They have a special tablet ready for people who are hearing impaired or unable to physically visit the upper floor. It’s not the same, but unlike many other historical buildings, they are clearly doing what they can to make the visit as accessible as possible.
There are also touch points for people who are visibly impaired, and there are disabled bathrooms, ramps and even the garden is accessible. It was truly amazing to see just how much effort they put into being able to welcome everyone.
The parking space is right outside the building, free for visitors, and also has accessible spots. Plus the guarantee that it’s never crowded.
Group visits and tours are available, but I imagine you’ll have to book those even more in advance. In any case, the staff is lovely, friendly and more than happy to answer all your questions, so just drop them a line if you have any.
In short: if you love historical architecture and/or Art Nouveau and have the patience to book a ticket several months in advance, do consider this for a visit.
