After more than 125 years, the Maria refuge abbey in Zundert came to an end. The monastery closed its doors after it was announced in May that there are too few young monks to keep the Trappist abbey open. This weekend the last brothers left.
“Very sad”, spokesman Jan-Willem Wits sighs at the NOS. At the peak there were seventy to eighty monks, only six in recent years.
He calls it ‘quite special’ that the monks themselves have decided to leave. Shrinkage and aging were the reason. “The community is becoming smaller and smaller and there is less and less time, energy and manpower to keep it running, while a monastery is a lot of work.”
‘Comma, no point’
Philosopher and writer Stine Jensen thinks the decision is courageous. “If you feel that there is no future in this current form, then it can also be an opening for something new and beautiful,” she tells the NOS. “I see this as a comma, instead of a point. You have to go with the times.”
Since 2022, the vast majority of society is no longer religious, although the decrease in the number of believers stagnated in 2024. Young people seem to be more interested in spirituality. Retraites were also organized in the Abbey in Zundert that were dominated by meditation and meaning.
The need for peace and meaning seems to be increasingly growing in society. Seven out of ten Dutch people are looking for meaning in life, according to research by the Social and Cultural Planning Office and Ipsos I&O Research.
“It is a strange time. There is war around us, the ever -threatening climate change, constantly rumbling in politics. Much happens that does not offer a hold,” Jensen explains. She says that people are looking for a deepening right now. “Certainly in times when obviousness such as peace, security and democracy seem to be faltering.”
Meaning is a broad concept. “Everyone has a different goal or something that he takes rest or energy. Fishing or sports also offer sense to life, or a beautiful film or meeting,” says Jensen. “It is nice if religious places find a restart in meaningful or spiritual projects or activities. There is often a certain peace and spiritual atmosphere there and it usually has a whole history.”
Homes or care centers
What will happen to the abbey in Zundert is not yet clear. The monks can now go to another monastery and remain active as a monk. The highest administrative body of the Trappists still has to agree to this in September.
Many applications have already been received both for the monastery and the accompanying brewery, says Wits. “If the brewery remains, no Trappist beer will be made anymore.”
Various brokers are interested in the buildings. They would like to make houses in it, but also care centers. “Retraites is also a possibility, a market must be for that,” says Wits. “That is also with the proposals to take over the building. It would be nice if they wanted to continue something in the spirit of the monastery.”
Saint after-lasting brewer of Trappist beer in the Netherlands
The abbey in Zundert was the second-to-last place in the Netherlands where monks Trappist beer was brewed. With the closing of the monastery, the brewery also closes.
Trappist beer may only be mentioned as if it is brewed in an abbey under the supervision of Trappists. Trappists are monks of the Order of the Cistercian. The proceeds from the beer must also be used to live on or help people in need. Only if it meets those conditions can the beer wear the ‘Authentic Trappist product’ logo.
In the Netherlands, only La Trappe is left as a Brouwer of Trappist beer. This is made in the Koningshoeven in Berkel-Enschot. There are eight Trappist beer brands worldwide. Besides La Trappe five more Belgian, an Italian and an English. There are more abbey beers. No rules apply to that name.