Royal Domain of Opgrimbie
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The Royal Domain of Opgrimbie is a domain in Opgrimbie (Maasmechelen) that has been privately owned by the Royal Family of Belgium since 1960. The domain is located on the steep edge of the Kempens Plateau, in the Hoge Kempen National Park.
The estate of the late King Baudouin, called Villa Fridhem, is located on the domain. The name of the country house is inspired by the summer palace of Boudewijn's grandparents, in Sweden. After the death of the King in 1993, discussions arose about the construction of a monastery in part of the 170 hectare Royal Domain, for the benefit of the Monastic Family of Bethlehem, Maria Ten-Hemel-Oprecorded and Saint Bruno, an order of Nuns who live according to the rule of life of the Carthusians and who use the Eastern rite. The construction of this monastery was the will of the King, after his death announced by Queen Fabiola to the then competent minister Kelchtermans. However, the monastery is located in a legally protected nature reserve. Opponents argued that no building permit can be issued in such a nature reserve. Through a special procedure, the minister granted a building permit after all, after which the works on the monastery started. The name of the monastery is the Monasterium Our Lady of the Fiat. The building permit was annulled by the Council of State in 1999. A second building permit, which was subsequently issued, was annulled in 2009 by the Council of State. In 2013, a procedure was started by the Diocese of Hasselt, the Monastic Order of the Monasteries and the foundation of Queen Fabiola to have a regularization approved for the area by means of a new zoning plan.