The Trappists in Zundert have 30,000 Trappist glasses in their stomachs. The Maria Toevlucht Abbey in Klein Zundert closes its doors after 125 years. The brothers still have about 30,000 glasses that they can no longer use. They want to give these glasses away for free to the residents of the municipality of Zundert.
The Maria Toevlucht Abbey was an important place in Zundert. Here the brothers lived in silence and hospitality. They also brewed the famous Trappist beer ‘Zundert’. Now that the abbey is closing, the brothers want the glasses to become a lasting memory for the residents.
The hall of the Vincent van Gogh House in Zundert is full of boxes with the characteristic glasses. “People are very happy with it,” counter employee Margot says. The glasses can be collected from various locations in the municipality from Thursday, but at least ten people came to the counter on Wednesday to collect them. “It is a very nice gift,” says Margot.
She thinks it is a shame that the fathers have disappeared from Zundert. “There are many people who want to know whether the beer will be made somewhere else, but we don’t know,” she says.
A visit to the monastery, where the Trappist monks left in August last year, shows that the monumental building is now occupied by seven so-called anti-squat tenants.
In the center of Zundert, many people think it is a shame that the Trappist fathers have left after 125 years. The Trappist beer has only been brewed in the monastery since 2013. Until recently, two types of Trappist beer were made at the brewery in Klein-Zundert: Zundert 10 and Zundert 8.
“It’s really Zundert and it’s a shame that the beer is going away,” says a lady in front of the town hall. “It’s nice that the memory of the monastery can now be preserved in everyone’s home with such a glass.”
The 30,000 glasses will be ready from Thursday. Each resident may collect one glass per person. “It’s a shame that it’s only one glass, because it’s more fun to drink with a friend,” says a passer-by. “By the way, I don’t drink alcohol,” he adds. He grimaces at the idea of drinking milk from it. “No, it doesn’t taste good. It could be tea or water, but it is a very nice glass,” he says, laughing.
The brothers of Maria Toevlucht Abbey have specially designed the tapered 33 cl glass for the Zundert Trappist. The shape of the jar makes the most of the promising scents of herbs and spices. “These glasses are a symbol of the bond between the abbey and our community. We are proud and grateful that the brothers want to give us this unique souvenir,” says councilor Ralph Bogers of Zundert.