Westmalle Abbey

In 1791 in the aftermath of the French Revolution, Augustinus de Lestrange Dubosc (1754–1827), the novice master of La Trappe Abbey (Soligny-la-Trappe) left France and went to Switzerland.Two novices had joined the original group of eight, so they were now 10 founders: Arsenius Durand (first prior), Eugenius Bonhomme de la Prade, Joannes-M. De Bruyne, Joseph X (surname unknown), Bonavetura X (surname unknown), Sebastianus Dumont, Hippolytus Moriceau, Zozymus Florentin, Stefanus Malmy and Maria-Bernardus Benoit.In February 1802, 12 monks returned to Westmalle, and with the support of the Antwerp banker Karel Jan Michiel De Wolff and other beneficiaries, the priory started to grow.The regulations of de Rancé say that the monks are allowed to drink the popular local beverage with their meals (besides water), which in Flanders is beer.In 1836 the abbot Martinus Dom starts with the construction of a small brewery, and on 10 December 1836 they served their first brew of Trappist beer at lunch.On 3 June 1884, Ulingsheide Abbey was founded in Tegelen, very close to the Dutch border with Germany, to receive German novices in the wake of the Kulturkampf.Father Jozef Peeters, together with 4 brothers left for Congo and they first settled in N'Dembe in Kasai but after a few years they relocated to Bamania near Mbandaka (then Coquilhatville).The abbey has a rich an old patrimony containing old master paintings and valuable manuscripts by important artists Frans Francken the Elder, Albrecht Dürer, Jacob van Baelen, Constantin Meunier, Willem Vorsterman, Louis Grosse, Maerten de Vos, Jan Erasmus Quellinus, and others.
Entrance of the abbey
Westmalle beer
monasteryCistercians of Strict ObservanceWestmalleBelgianAntwerpWestmalle BreweryTrappist beerCisterciansFrench RevolutionAugustinus de Lestrange DuboscnoviceLa Trappe AbbeySoligny-la-TrappeCarthusianVal-SainteFribourgFlandersbishopbishopricCampinebishop of AntwerpprioryBornemMaria Theresa of AustriaWuustwezelAustrian NetherlandsMünsterWestphaliaDarfeldNapoleon I of FranceUnited Kingdom of the NetherlandsLeonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de GisigniesWilliam IArchbishopEngelbert SterckxWestmalle beerPope Gregory XVIArmand Jean le Bouthillier de RancéMartinus DombreweryAchel AbbeyMeersel-DreefOrder of Friars Minor CapuchinSaint SixtusWestvleterenvineyardUlingsheide AbbeyTegelenKulturkampfSaint JosephBelgian CongoMbandakaBrothers of the Sacred HeartIssoundunBorgerhoutchurchguesthousetramwaylibraryrefectorydormitoryWorld War IcampanileZundertNetherlandscowshedblister headcheeseWorld War IIAbbey of Our Lady of NazarethBrechtSaint-Sixtus AbbeyCîteauxFrans Francken the ElderAlbrecht DürerConstantin MeunierWillem VorstermanMaerten de VosJan Erasmus QuellinusChâtelleraultLulworthCarcassonneVerlainemonasteriesConcordat of 1801NapoleonPope Pius VIIMellerayLokerenMartinus (Frans Daniel) DomKontichMonasterium MagnificatDeelgemeentesOostmalleBlommerschotSalphenOostmalle AirfieldRenesse CastleScherpenberg millWestmalle Castle