Brecht Abbey

In 1235, Bartholomeus van Tienen and his son Wicbert moved to Lier to establish a third Cistercian nunnery after Bloemendaal (around 1210) and Maagdendaal (1221).

His proposal was however taken up by Dom Robertus (Edward Jozef Modest) Eyckmans, Abbot of the nearby Trappist Westmalle Abbey.

On 12 October 1945 the organization for founding a new abbey was established, and in 1946 about 16 hectares of land were acquired in Brecht for the new building, as the old site in Lier was no longer available.

[1] Thirteen Trappistine nuns left Soleilmont and headed for Brecht on 23 June 1950: Abbess Agnes Swevers with Sisters Lucia Delaere, Heleen Steylaers, Humbelina Roelandts, Idesbalda van Soest, Lutgard Smeets, Maria Marlier, Petra Belet, Juliana Rutten, Harlindis Gerits, Roberta Koeken, Alberica Hauchecorne, and novice Roza van den Bosch.

Starting in 1964, they began to market dishwashing detergent, and subsequently expanded to other cleaning products, cosmetics, and liturgical objects, as well as hand-crafted banners and flags.