Our Lady College, Antwerp

Our Lady College (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege) is a private Catholic primary and secondary school in Antwerp, Belgium. The school was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1575 and the school building was designed by Jules Bilmeyer, completed in 1875.[2]

Our Lady College
Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwecollege
College building to right of church
Location
Map

Belgium
Coordinates51°12′49″N 4°24′45″E / 51.213504°N 4.412539°E / 51.213504; 4.412539
Information
TypePrivate primary and secondary school
Religious affiliation(s)Catholicism
DenominationJesuits
Established1575; 449 years ago (1575)
StatusOpen
Closed1576-1585; 1773-1840
Websiteolvc.telenet.be
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History

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In 1575, the Jesuits opened their first school in the city in a building that became part of the Lessius Hogeschool. After war with Spain in 1576, the Jesuits had to leave the city, but returned in 1585 and reopened the school.

In 1607 and again in 1655, the school had to move to larger premises to keep up with the expanding population.

In 1773, Pope Clement XIV ordered for all Jesuit educational services to cease. The Jesuits did not return to Antwerp until 1840, when they reopened the college. It was situated in what is now a restaurant for students of the University of Antwerp.

In 1871, the capacity of the school again needed to be increased so land was bought in a series of streets in the centre of Antwerp called 'the Avenues'. There, they got the architect Jules Bilmeyer to design the new school. It was completed in 1875. Twelve years later, he also completed the building of the church next door to the school, Our Lady of Grace Church (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Gratie Kerk).[3]

Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ignatian. Accessed 6 June 2016.
  2. ^ "School Information". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Structure Database". Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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