The Clarissen Monastery in the Spotlight During Open Monument Day

On Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Clarissen Monastery in Turnhout opened its doors for the first time during Open Monument Day. Visitors had the opportunity to closely discover this remarkable building by Atelier Carli Vanhout – Paul Schellekens & Ass., a distinct example of the Turnhout School.

A First Step towards a Vision for the Future

The day before, on Saturday, September 13, an inspiring event was organized in the monastery focusing on the future of this unique heritage. Erfgoed Noorderkempen, AR-TUR, the City of Turnhout, and Modernisme In de Kempen brought together residents, experts, and interested parties to consider possible avenues for preservation and repurposing.

The program began with a guided tour led by Caroline Daemen (IOED Erfgoed Noorderkempen) and was followed by a screening of a documentary about the Centraal Beheer building by Herman Hertzberger in Apeldoorn – an iconic office building that is now given a second life thanks to innovative repurposing strategies.

This was followed by a panel discussion in which various voices shed light on the challenges and opportunities of the Clarissen Monastery:

• Stijn Adriaensens, Alderman for Spatial Planning, City of Turnhout
• Edith Wouters, artistic coordinator AR-TUR
• Sven Grooten, architect-partner B-Architecten
• Laurens Jan ten Kate, architect-director at Architectuurstudio Herman Hertzberger (Amsterdam)

Heritage with a Future

The Clarissen Monastery is not only an architectural masterpiece but also a tangible witness to the modernist wave that put Turnhout on the international map from the 1960s onwards. The question then arises: how can this masterpiece of the Turnhout School gain new meaning for future generations?

In the coming months and years, this conversation will continue, together with residents, heritage partners, designers, and policymakers. The goal: to preserve this valuable heritage and make it speak anew in the city of tomorrow.