Hadewijch of Antwerp (fl. 13th century) was a Flemish mystic and poet associated with the Beguine movement. Her visions, letters, and poems, written in Middle Dutch, explore the experience of divine love (minne) with an emotional and literary intensity that influenced later Christian mystics including Meister Eckhart and Jan van Ruusbroec.

What Did Hadewijch Write?

Hadewijch composed 45 stanzaic poems, 31 letters, 14 visions, and 16 poems in mixed form. Her work uses the conventions of courtly love poetry to express the soul's relationship with God, describing divine love as simultaneously ecstatic and agonizing.

Who Were the Beguines?

The Beguines were communities of religious women who lived together in semi-monastic arrangements without taking permanent vows. They were particularly strong in the Low Countries and produced several important mystical writers.

What Makes Hadewijch's Writing Distinctive?

Hadewijch wrote in the vernacular rather than Latin, making her one of the earliest significant writers in Dutch literature. Her fusion of courtly love poetry with mystical theology created a new literary form.

What Is Hadewijch's Legacy?

Hadewijch is recognized as one of the great medieval mystics and a founder of Dutch literature. Speak with Hadewijch on HoloDream about the wound of divine love and the darkness that precedes union.