Vlierbeek Abbey: A Tale of Resilience and Heritage

The Abbey of Vlierbeek was founded in 1125 when Duke Godfrey the Bearded of Lorraine donated land to the abbey of Affligem.

Vlierbeek was the first monastery in the vicinity of Leuven.

Originally a Benedictine monastery, Vlierbeek gained autonomy from Affligem in 1163 and grew influential in agriculture and religion around Leuven. It suffered destruction in 1572 due to religious conflict but began rebuilding in the 18th century under architect Laurent-Benoit Dewez.

However, the French Revolution forced the monks to flee, leading to the abbey's dissolution in 1797. Despite brief returns of monks, the abbey never regained its former prominence, and the last monk died in 1838.

In 1829, the abbey's church became the centre of a new parish, and its lands supported scholarships in the archdiocese of Mechelen.

The former agricultural complex was built in the 17th century in here and then converted into housing in the 19th century. The architectural style is traditional. These buildings were restored in 1983 - 1984.

Source: https://www.abdijvanvlierbeek.be/virtueel-bezoek/landbouwcomplex/, photo by Asli Tezcan.