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 priests. The community publishes a bi-monthly magazine called Berne. Since March 2007, Ward Cortvriendt has been the seventieth abbot. In 2009 the abbey celebrated its 875th anniversary. Besides the professed contributors the abbey also has some people who experience closely linked with the community: participants of the institution Ruach, the community of Berne and the Bernecircle.

Berne Abbey became founded in 1134, the year of Norbert of Xanten's demise, by the knight and nobleman Fulcold of Berne, lord of Teisterband, within the Dutch city of Berne, at the banks of the river Maas, two miles south-east of Heusden and approximately six miles north-west of 's-Hertogenbosch. Numerous legends surround its foundation. One is that Fulcold, while hotly pressed in struggle, made a vow to construct an abbey, if, by way of throwing himself into the river Maas, his existence is probably preserved from the enemy. This prayer having been heard, Fulcold converted his castle at Berne right into a monastery, wherein he himself have become a lay brother. Blessed Fulcold died on April 12, 1149, on which day his name is recorded in the hagiology of the Premonstratensian order.