Achel Abbey
Encyclopedia
The Trappist Abbey of Achel or Saint Benedictus-Abbey or also Achelse Kluis (which means hermitage
of Achel), which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance
, is located in Achel in the Campine
region of the province of Limburg
(Flanders
, Belgium). The abbey is famous for its spiritual life and its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer
breweries in the world. Life in the abbey is characterised by prayer, reading and manual work, the three basic elements of Trappist life.
was signed between Spain and the Netherlands
. The result of the treaty was that the Catholic mass
was not allowed in the Dutch Republic
. Therefore Catholics from Valkenswaard
and Schaft built a chapel in Achel which was part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The early roots of the Abbey date back to 1686, when Petrus van Eynatten, a son of the mayor of Eindhoven, founded a community of hermit
s of Saint Joseph
. The community would flourish until 1789 when they were expelled from their convent after the French revolutionary
army invaded the Austrian Netherlands. The abbey was sold to Jan Diederik van Tuyll van Serooskerken (Utrecht, 6 August 1773-Heeze, 9 July 1843).
from Westmalle Abbey
founded a priory
in Achel (first founded in Meersel-Dreef
on 3 May 1838 in a former monastery of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
). The abbey and its 95 hectares of land had been bought by the priest Gast from Heeze
on 9 April 1845 with the support of several beneficiaries. The first beer to be brewed on the site was the Patersvaatje in 1852. In 1871, the priory was granted the status of abbey
and beer brewing became a regular activity. By reclaiming wasteland, the agriculture and cattle-breeding of the abbey prospered. In addition several daughter-houses were founded in Echt
, Diepenveen
, Rochefort
and the abbey of Notre Dame de l'Emmanuel in Kasanza in 1958 (Belgian Congo
)
dismantled the brewery in 1917 to salvage the approximately 700kg of copper. After World War II a new abbey was built between 1946 and 1952, but only two wings of the planned four were completed. In 1989 the abbey sold most of its land to the Dutch National Forest Administration and the Flemish Government. In 1998 with the support from the trappists from Westmalle
and Rochefort brewing started again.
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
of Achel), which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance
Trappists
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance , or Trappists, is a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict...
, is located in Achel in the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region of the province of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
(Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium). The abbey is famous for its spiritual life and its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer
Trappist beer
A Trappist beer is a beer brewed by or under control of Trappist monks. There are a total of 174 Trappist monasteries worldwide ; only seven produce Trappist beer and are authorized to label their beers with the Authentic Trappist Product logo that indicates a compliance to the various rules of...
breweries in the world. Life in the abbey is characterised by prayer, reading and manual work, the three basic elements of Trappist life.
17th to 18th Century
On 30 January 1648, at the and of the Eighty Years War, the Treaty of MunsterTreaty of Münster
Treaty of Münster may refer to:* Peace of Münster, a treaty between the Dutch Republic and Spain signed in January 1648 ending the Eighty Years' War...
was signed between Spain and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The result of the treaty was that the Catholic mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
was not allowed in the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. Therefore Catholics from Valkenswaard
Valkenswaard
Valkenswaard is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality had 30,871 citizens and spans an area of 56,50 square kilometers ....
and Schaft built a chapel in Achel which was part of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The early roots of the Abbey date back to 1686, when Petrus van Eynatten, a son of the mayor of Eindhoven, founded a community of hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
s of Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
. The community would flourish until 1789 when they were expelled from their convent after the French revolutionary
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
army invaded the Austrian Netherlands. The abbey was sold to Jan Diederik van Tuyll van Serooskerken (Utrecht, 6 August 1773-Heeze, 9 July 1843).
19th Century
On 21 March 1846 the TrappistsTrappists
The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance , or Trappists, is a Roman Catholic religious order of cloistered contemplative monks who follow the Rule of St. Benedict...
from Westmalle Abbey
Westmalle Abbey
The Trappist Abbey of Westmalle or Abdij van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Heilig Hart , which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Westmalle , in the Campine region of the province of Antwerp .The abbey was founded in 1794, but the community was not elevated to the rank of...
founded a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
in Achel (first founded in Meersel-Dreef
Hoogstraten
Hoogstraten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Hoogstraten proper and the towns of Meer, Meerle, Meersel-Dreef, Minderhout and Wortel,...
on 3 May 1838 in a former monastery of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
). The abbey and its 95 hectares of land had been bought by the priest Gast from Heeze
Heeze
Heeze is a town in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Heeze-Leende, about 9 km southeast of Eindhoven.Heeze was a separate municipality until 1997, when it merged with Leende....
on 9 April 1845 with the support of several beneficiaries. The first beer to be brewed on the site was the Patersvaatje in 1852. In 1871, the priory was granted the status of abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
and beer brewing became a regular activity. By reclaiming wasteland, the agriculture and cattle-breeding of the abbey prospered. In addition several daughter-houses were founded in Echt
Echt
Echt may refer to:* Echt-Susteren, a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands;** Echt, Netherlands, a city in the municipality of Echt-Susteren.* Echt , the former German Britpop group;* Echt, Aberdeenshire, a village in Aberdeenshire ....
, Diepenveen
Diepenveen
Diepenveen is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Deventer, about 4 km north of the city centre.Diepenveen was a separate municipality until 1999, when it became a part of Deventer....
, Rochefort
Rochefort Abbey
The Trappist Abbey of Rochefort or Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Rochefort in the province of Namur . The abbey is famous for its spiritual life and its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer breweries in the world...
and the abbey of Notre Dame de l'Emmanuel in Kasanza in 1958 (Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
)
20th Century
At the beginning of World War I (1914) the monks left the abbey. The GermansGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
dismantled the brewery in 1917 to salvage the approximately 700kg of copper. After World War II a new abbey was built between 1946 and 1952, but only two wings of the planned four were completed. In 1989 the abbey sold most of its land to the Dutch National Forest Administration and the Flemish Government. In 1998 with the support from the trappists from Westmalle
Westmalle
Westmalle is a village which is located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The village itself is part of the municipality of Malle.-Tourism:...
and Rochefort brewing started again.