The oldest reference to the abbey dates from 1095, when the Bishop of Cambrai issued a charter in its favour.

Initially administered by Augustinian canons, in 1140, the abbey's monks switched to the rules of the Premonstratensian order.

In the 13th century, the abbey now called Dieleghem possessed half of the municipality's territory and played an important social and economic role until the French Revolution.

In November 1796, the canons regular were evicted and deported to an island off the shores of Brittany, France.

Other abbeys in Flanders, like Afflighem, Grimbergen and Groot-Bijgaarden, shared a similar fate.