Tongerlo Abbey was founded around 1130, when a number of Norbertines from the Saint Michael's Abbey in Antwerp settled on the estate of Lord Giselbert of Castelré. The abbey came to a temporary end in 1796, when French revolutionaries expelled the Norbertines from the complex. After this, the abbey was sold and some of the buildings were demolished, including the church. It was not until 1838 that the order was re-established and returned to Tongerlo two years later. During this long history, the monastery grew into a fenced abbey complex with largely preserved moat and numerous buildings. The main buildings are situated around a vast courtyard and are protected as a monument. The Norbertines of Tongerlo belong to the same order as those of Postel and Averbode, they are now also trying to get their income from tourism and the sale of local products.