Berne Abbey

Berne Abbey, a Dutch abbey of the Premonstratensians, or Norbertines, in Heeswijk, North Brabant, is the oldest extant religious community inside the Netherlands. It has 27 brothers and clergymen. The network publishes a bi-month-to-month magazine referred to as Berne. Since March 2007, Ward Cortvriendt has been the 70th abbot.

In 2009 the abbey celebrated its 875th anniversary. Besides the professed contributors the abbey additionally has a few individuals who feel carefully connected with the community: participants of the institution Ruach, the community of Berne and the Bernecircle. Berne Abbey changed into founded in 1134, the yr of Norbert of Xanten's demise, by using the knight and nobleman Fulcold of Berne, lord of Teisterband, inside the Dutch town of Berne, on the banks of the river Maas, miles south east of Heusden and approximately 6 miles north west of 's Hertogenbosch. Numerous legends surround its foundation. One is that Fulcold, when hotly pressed in battle, made a vow to construct an abbey, if, via throwing himself into the river Maas, his existence might be preserved from the enemy.