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The 'Trappist Abbey of Westmalle' or ''Abdij van Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Heilig Hart'' (E: Abbey of Our Lady of the Sacred heart), which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Westmalle. The abbey was founded in 1794, but the community was not elevated to the rank of Trappist abbey until 22 April, 1836. The abbey is famous for its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer breweries in the world. The three pillars of life in the monastery are a ''life of prayer'', ''life in a community'', and a ''life of work''.

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History

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History

Twice in the 18^th and 19^th century the Cistercians (just like most other monastic orders) had been prohibited. A number of Cistercians had fled to safety in Val-Sainte (Switzerland). When the they felt that it was safe again, they started to prepare for establishing new monasteries. On their way to Canada 10 monks stayed behind in the Campine region of Belgium. The bishop of Antwerp gave them a small farm ''Nooit Rust'' (that is, "never rest") in which on 6 June 1794 a convent was founded. However already on 17 July 1794, the monks had to leave Westmalle again, when the French troops invaded the Austrian Netherlands. They fled to Münster (Westphalia, Germany), and founded a monastery in Darfeld.
In February 1802, 12 monks returned to Westmalle, but on 28 July 1811 a decree by Napoleon I of France closed all Trappist monasteries in France. On 21 August1814, after the defeat of Napoleon, the monks finally returned to Westmalle.
It took until 22 April 1836 before the monastery became a Trappist abbey. A rule of the Trappists says that the monks are allowed to drink the popular local beverage with their meals (besides water), which in Flanders is beer. In order not to have to buy beer, they decided to brew it themselves. In 1836 the abbot Martinus Dom starts with the construction of a small brewery, and on 10 December 1836 they served their first brew of Trappist beer at lunch.

Source

★ Trappist Abbey of Westmalle