Abdij "Maria Toevlucht" - Rucphenseweg 38

20-10-2021 reservering gemaakt telefonisch (géén emailadres van Abdij!) nooit een bevestiging gehad, constant bellen heeft géén zin!!! Onbegrijpelijk dit en niets gemeld op website!! Moet ik nu gewoon gaan zo ver rijden?! Vrede van Christus.....

Een prächtig Klooster Met zeer veel broeders en Paters die zeer veel hulp bieden! Ik ben 3…Keer een week lang in dit huis ein abdy geweest ein heb genoten van het Zen verhaal ! Een week in stilte is alsof ik 3 weken vakante genoten heb!

Leuke abdijwinkel, mooie wandelroute. Het bier is perfect en niet duur.

Beautiful

Zundert trappisten brouwerij.

As of 2018, there are only 12 Trappist monastery breweries in the world. Abdij Maria Toevlucht is a sprawling, beautiful trappist abbey in southern Netherlands, and is home to De Kievet Trappist Brewery. Unfortunately they do not offers tours of the brewery, but they have a visitors shop where you can purchase bottles of their Zundert Trappist ale. Drive down the entrance road and the first right takes you back to the monastery's church and gift shop. There is space for parking in front and the small one-story pale brick building has an awning over the large front window. Inside you'll find books, candles, religious memorabilia, abbey cheese, and of course their Trappist beer. Until recently they brewed just a single style, an 8% ale, but in 2018 they added a 10% abv bigger brother. Both beers are simply named Zundert, after the nearby town. The beer is available in six packs or sampler gift cases with their logo glass. They have very limited hours, so check their website to see when you can go. A short walk behind the gift shop is a statue of St. Bernardus and a path to the abbey's huge church which is lovely to stroll around. If you follow the main entrance road past the turn to the gift shop and church, then you can drive back to the gated brewery. The tall one-story building has frosted glass walls through which you can discern the outline of a row of tall stainless steel fermenters. Outside in front are connections for delivery of grain by truck. It is a good sized operation, and their beer seems popular in this area. It is a tranquil and neatly kept facility, a nice place to enjoy the scenery and take some bottles home with you.

You can get some Zundert (Dutch trappist ale), chalices and some gifts...

Quiet and sober but comfortable. Ample facilities such as a reading room and meditation rooms, but also a good policy to maintain a degree of silence. Very hospitable monks towards guests (brother Peter), especially considering how closed Trappist monks usually are. They are also very wise mystics, i learnt a lot, especially from brother Peter. The food is simple but tasty with dinner in the afternoon. It's eaten in silence. And you'll love the beer they serve with it (they serve Westmalle with the warm lunch, because their own beer is a bit heavy for the afternoon and no beer in the 40 days perios before Easter). It also has lovely surroundings for a walk. This is a review of a visit to the monastery, not the brewery.