Sint Bernardusabdij

Cistercian abbey

This former Cistercian abbey was founded in the thirteenth century. The complex grew over the years into an imposing whole with wings and three inner courtyards surrounded by a park of around 14 hectares. The abbey was very important in the Middle Ages. After the French Revolution, however, the monks were driven away and the buildings were used as a prison and as storage depot for the army. Today you will find not only the town hall of Hemiksem, but also two museums: the Heemmuseum and the Gilliot and Roelants Tegelmuseum, which is devoted to tiles.

The role of Kempens Landschap

The buildings are property of the municipality of Hemiksem. Kempens Landschap and the municipality have leased the park from the Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos. The complex is a protected monument and is being gradually restored. The municipality now wants to restore other parts of the abbey in phases in order to give them a new function. Our organisation advises the town council in this regard.