Monastery Trail: circular walk Huijbergen
Walk through forests and dunes and discover the natural history of the Huijbergen monastery.
Starting point: from your location
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The life of a monk is appealing, nowadays too. Even if just for a brief time. We are going on a sabbatical or a retreat. We take a step back from the everyday hustle and bustle to find the silence within ourselves, to reflect. Monasteries and abbeys in Brabant used to specialise in that. And you can still stay in some of them in special guest accommodation. Tens of thousands of men and women have gone on a retreat, also with the monks of Huijbergen. Retreat literally means to withdraw inside yourself. But you don’t necessarily have to do that between four walls. You can also distance yourself from your schedule, calendar and obligations in the natural greenery, by walking over the long lanes, through enchanting forests and past stunning fens. This monastery circular trail is perfectly suited to that. You will find that out for yourself.
North Brabant monastery life
While walking, …
The life of a monk is appealing, nowadays too. Even if just for a brief time. We are going on a sabbatical or a retreat. We take a step back from the everyday hustle and bustle to find the silence within ourselves, to reflect. Monasteries and abbeys in Brabant used to specialise in that. And you can still stay in some of them in special guest accommodation. Tens of thousands of men and women have gone on a retreat, also with the monks of Huijbergen. Retreat literally means to withdraw inside yourself. But you don’t necessarily have to do that between four walls. You can also distance yourself from your schedule, calendar and obligations in the natural greenery, by walking over the long lanes, through enchanting forests and past stunning fens. This monastery circular trail is perfectly suited to that. You will find that out for yourself.
North Brabant monastery life
While walking, become acquainted with the life and work of the Brabant monks and nuns – then and now. Our Kloosterpad or Monastery Path takes you past around fifty-five monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant in various stages. The total length of the trail is 330 kilometres, but there are also beautiful trails marked out around various monasteries. Check out all stage walks and tours here.
Finding the way with numbered junctions
This walking route has been set out using the numbered junction network in Brabant. Simply follow the route via the signposted junctions, from one number to the next. There are also signposts between the junctions to help you find your way.
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Signposting of the monastery tour
Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.
Signposting of the monastery tour
Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.
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Hotline routes
Hotline routesIf there is something wrong on the route, report it here.
Sights on this route
St Marie Monastery (Klooster Sainte Marie)
In the 1990s, the Brothers of Huijbergen relocated to a newbuild and much of the original property was sold.
Starting point:
Kloosterdreef4635 CX Huijbergen
Navigate to starting point
St Marie Monastery (Klooster Sainte Marie)
St Marie Monastery (Klooster Sainte Marie)
Kloosterdreef
4635 CX Huijbergen
Starting point:
Staartsestraat 24635 BB HUIJBERGEN
Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide
Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide is a cross-border nature area that extends into the Belgian province of Antwerp.
Starting point:
PutsewegOssendrecht
Our Lady of the Ascension Public Abbey (Volksabdij O.L.V. Ter Duinen)
Our Lady of the Ascension Public Abbey was established as a youth labour camp, where education and care were also provided.
Starting point:
O.L.V. Ter Duinenlaan 1994641 RM Ossendrecht
Our Lady of the Ascension Public Abbey (Volksabdij O.L.V. Ter Duinen)
Our Lady of the Ascension Public Abbey (Volksabdij O.L.V. Ter Duinen)
O.L.V. Ter Duinenlaan 199
4641 RM Ossendrecht
Our Lady of the Ascension Church (O.L.V. Hemelvaartkerk)
Our Lady of the Ascension Church is next to the Brothers of Huijbergen’s abbey.
Starting point:
Boomstraat 14635 CX Huijbergen
Our Lady of the Ascension Church (O.L.V. Hemelvaartkerk)
Our Lady of the Ascension Church (O.L.V. Hemelvaartkerk)
Boomstraat 1
4635 CX Huijbergen
The Brothers of Huijbergen
In 1852, the brothers moved into the former Hermits of Saint William Priory (Wilhelmietenpriorij) in Huijbergen.
Starting point:
Boomstraat 74635 CX Huijbergen
St Marie Monastery (Klooster Sainte Marie)
In the 1990s, the Brothers of Huijbergen relocated to a newbuild and much of the original property was sold.
Starting point:
Kloosterdreef4635 CX Huijbergen
Navigate to endpoint
Story of the route
St Marie Monastery (Klooster Sainte Marie)
In the 1990s, the Brothers of Huijbergen relocated to a newbuild and much of the original property was sold.
Starting point:
Kloosterdreef4635 CX Huijbergen
Navigate to starting point
So, you could also go on a retreat with the monks in Huijbergen – the Hermits of Saint William (de Wilhelmieten). But what else did this monastic order do in its six-century existence? These monks did not exactly sit still. They preoccupied themselves with cultivating and fertilising the wild land. So, it’s as if you can read the true story of these monks in the countryside you cover during this walk.
Huijbergen is a stone’s throw away from the Netherlands’ southern neighbours. The national border between Belgium and the Netherlands was established in1839, and thanks to the Hermits of Saint William, all the cultivated countryside is now part of the Netherlands. You can still see it today along the whimsicalborder near Huijbergen. And in fact, that came in handy for the smugglers in West Brabant that came later. Thanks to the whimsicalline, they could quickly cross the border unseen with the cigarettes, butter, coffee and whatever they brought with them.
The Hermits of Saint William left more behind in Huijbergen. The gatehouse to their abbey, dedicated to Our Lady, from 1610 still stands. The Hermits of Saint William Museum (Wilhelmietenmuseum) is located inside. There, you can read and hear all about their history in the six galleries. The congregation of the Brothers of Huijbergen were established here in 1854. It is the last remaining abbey of the Hermits of Saint William in the Netherlands. A congregation is a religious community just like a monastic order. Communities established before 1550 were called monastic orders and they were called congregations after that date. Fun fact.
Huijbergen has the Brothers of Huijbergen to thank for being well-known, certainly in the originally Catholic South. The brothers believed that you became more human through love, and that everyone has unique opportunities to make the Earth more liveable. That is lovely and still extremely relevant today. What do you think of this conviction? It is a good question to ponder and discuss with your walking companions while following in the footsteps of the Hermits of Saint William.
The countryside you see around you during this walk still betrays the signature of the Hermits of Saint William. But they did more as well. The brothers meant a lot to education. The congregation developed all forms of education: primary, secondary, special and higher education at schools and boarding schools. Nowadays, the national government is responsible for education, but that was not always the case.
Enough talking, it’s time to enjoy the stunning surroundings. Such as for example, Kalmthoutse Heide (heath). ‘Kalm’ means calm in Dutch, so the name says it all. This area has characteristic height differences; indeed, it is situated on Brabant Ridge. You pass fens and forests where you could come across rare plants and animals. So, keep your eyes open. But that is not all, Grenspark de Kalmthoutse Heide (border park) can officially call itself a Quiet Area. The provinces of North Brabant and Flanders did extensive noise measurements, and it turned out that there are no or hardly any unnatural sounds here. That makes this area the ultimate place for a mini retreat, to escape the bustle and bustle of life. Enjoy it!
St Marie Monastery (Klooster Sainte Marie)
In the 1990s, the Brothers of Huijbergen relocated to a newbuild and much of the original property was sold.
Starting point:
Kloosterdreef4635 CX Huijbergen
Navigate to endpoint
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