Zisterzienserinnenabtei Leeuwenhorst, Cistercian monastery in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
Zisterzienserinnenabtei Leeuwenhorst was a monastery complex featuring religious buildings, residential quarters, and cultivated grounds positioned near the North Sea coast. The site included agricultural fields and storage facilities that supported the daily needs and self-sufficiency of the religious community.
The monastery was established in 1261 by two brothers and grew into a significant religious center in the region. It was destroyed in 1574 during the period of religious conflict that reshaped the Dutch landscape.
From its founding, this monastery served as a place where women could dedicate themselves to religious life and contemplative practice. The community maintained active connections with sister convents across the region, shaping spiritual traditions in the area.
The former monastery site is situated near the North Sea coast and now contains modern educational and residential buildings. Visitors should keep in mind that the original grounds have been developed and few historical structures from the monastery period remain visible.
In the 1600s, the community cultivated a notable plant collection from distant lands in a private botanical garden on the grounds. The assembled specimens later traveled to England, where they became part of a royal collection.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
