Eekhout Abbey
Eekhout Abbey was a medieval Augustinian canonry located in Bruges, Belgium, traditionally linked to a hermit's cell around 1050. It officially joined the Arrouaisian Order in 1146, adopting the Rule of St. Augustine and establishing separate communities for men and women. After centuries of decline, the abbey was dissolved during the French Revolution and subsequently demolished, with only a single doorway remaining.
Key Facts
- ›Traditionally founded around 1050, with the first historical reference in 1130.
- ›Joined the Arrouaisian Order in 1146, adopting the Rule of St. Augustine.
- ›Separated male and female communities, with the women's community moving to Odegem.
- ›Dissolved during the French Revolution.
- ›Demolished in 1803, with only a doorway surviving.
- ›The site is now occupied by the Groeningemuseum.
Surviving Doorway Onto Eekhoutstraat
Eekhoutabdij
Everelmus
Joined the Arrouaisian Order, Dissolved During the French Revolution, Demolished
About Eekhout Abbey
Eekhout Abbey, known in Dutch as Eekhoutabdij, was a significant medieval house of Augustinian Canons situated in Bruges, West Flanders, Belgium. Its origins are traditionally traced to a religious community that coalesced around the cell of the hermit Everelmus around 1050, though formal historical records only appear from 1130.
History and Development
The abbey officially joined the Arrouaisian Order in or around 1146. This affiliation led to the adoption of the Rule of St. Augustine and its formal establishment as an abbey under its first abbot, Lambertus. A notable development during this period was the separation of the previously coexisting men's and women's communities. The women were relocated to premises in Odegem (now Steenbrugge), where their community eventually evolved into St. Trudo's Abbey, while the men remained at the original site near the center of Bruges.
Dissolution and Legacy
Following centuries of gradual decline, Eekhout Abbey met its end during the French Revolution. In 1803, after being confiscated and sold as state property, the abbey was completely demolished by its French purchaser, Rousseau. Miraculously, a single doorway leading onto the Eekhoutstraat survived this destruction and remains to this day.
Subsequent to the abbey's demolition, isolated parcels of its former property came into the possession of the Du Jardin family. Their family business, the Bank Du Jardin, eventually failed in 1874, leading to a significant portion of their holdings being acquired by the Sisters of the Sint-Andreasinstituut, who established a school on the site. Today, the grounds of the former Eekhout Abbey are occupied by the Groeningemuseum.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Eekhout Abbey founded?
The origin of Eekhout Abbey is traditionally linked to a religious community that grew around the cell of the hermit Everelmus around 1050. However, the first documented historical reference to the abbey dates from 1130.
What religious order did Eekhout Abbey belong to?
Eekhout Abbey joined the Arrouaisian Order in or around 1146. Following this, it adopted the Rule of St. Augustine and became an abbey.
What happened to Eekhout Abbey after its dissolution?
After being dissolved during the French Revolution, the abbey was sold off as state property. In 1803, a French purchaser named Rousseau demolished the entire abbey, with the exception of a single doorway.
Is anything of Eekhout Abbey still standing?
Only a single doorway onto the Eekhoutstraat still stands from the original Eekhout Abbey. The rest of the abbey was demolished in 1803.
What is located at the site of Eekhout Abbey today?
The site where Eekhout Abbey once stood is now occupied by the Groeningemuseum, a museum in Bruges.
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