St. Bernard Abbey Bornem

Bornem Abbey is a vibrant center in which history, culture and nature recreation enter into dialogue. With a wide range of functions and historical assets, there is something for everyone.
(Municipality of Bornem)

Bornem Abbey contains an exceptional piece of heritage. This is managed by the municipality and can be visited. Stimulated? Then definitely plan your visit.The library of the Abbey of Bornem is one of the most important heritage libraries in the province of Antwerp. The collection contains more than 34,000 works, including a significant number of manuscripts, incunabula and post-incunabula. The library contains, among other things, an important number of early printed books on Saint Bernard and the Cistercian Order.
(Municipality of Bornem)

Bornem Abbey was founded in 1603 by Pedro Coloma, a career-making Spanish nobleman who ended up in the Netherlands with the army of Alexander Farnese. You can see his statue in the abbey square. The abbey was first populated by the English Dominicans, was sold to the public during the French Revolution and eventually passed into the hands of the Cistercians. The buildings were recently restored. Part of it has been converted into private residences, but a large part is accessible to the public. And luckily, because you look your eyes out!
(Tourism East Flanders)