Thereafter, a village grew up at the shore of the lake, likely providing services to the abbey.

Because of the abbey Bordesholm became the cultural and economic center of the duchy of Holstein (nowadays Schleswig-Holstein) region between Kiel and Neumünster.

The abbeys name is known in late gothic period music due to the Bordesholm Lament of Virgin Mary (Bordesholmer Marienklage[2]), a 1475/76 passion drama with songs in middle German.

[3] During the reformation the abbey was closed in 1566 by duke Hans the Elder of Slesvig-Holsten-Haderslev.

1773-1865 the area of Bordesholm was administered by the King of Denmark by the virtue of his being Duke of Holstein.