Convent of Diepenveen, Medieval monastery in Diepenveen, Netherlands
The Convent of Diepenveen is a women's monastery set on elevated ground in the marshy landscape of Rande, with stone buildings and a restored chapel dating to the early 15th century. The complex displays features typical of medieval monastic design, including chambers that reveal how the sisters lived and worked.
Founded in 1400 as the first women's convent of the Modern Devotion movement, it received official approval from Bishop Frederik van Blankenheim in 1402. This recognition established it as a key spiritual center for the reformed movement in the region.
The community focused on copying manuscripts and binding books, gathering an extensive library that stood out among other women's houses in Deventer. Visitors can still sense this literary work in the remaining structures on the grounds.
The restored cloister is open to visitors and offers a quiet space to explore monastic traditions. It helps to check ahead for guided tours and prepare for uneven grounds on the site.
The Sisters' Book, compiled around 1460, contains biographies of deceased nuns describing their spiritual experiences and reasons for entering monastic life. This handwritten document offers a rare window into the personal stories and motivations of the women who lived there.
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