Bethlehem Monastery - Haren

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Bethlehem Monastery emerged here in Haren. It began with Udo Talhout and his wife Gerberga, who left their house to their daughters Maria and Eringardis. Both women were beguines in ’s-Hertogenbosch and devoted their lives to God. With permission from the bishop of Liège, they founded a monastery on this site in 1501 for the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance of the Unity.

The sisters lived according to the example of Francis of Assisi, in simplicity and devotion. Their monastery chapel was built around 1520 and became the heart of the community. They prayed, worked in the garden and provided education to children from the village. During wars and turbulent times, they had to flee multiple times, but each time they managed to return.

In 1845, monastic life here changed drastically. Bethlehem went “under lock”: bars were installed and the sisters henceforth lived in complete seclusion from the outside world.

The last sisters left in 1965. Since then, the monastery has served various purposes and is now a venue for events and weddings. Yet once, this was the only women’s monastery in North Brabant that existed already before the Reformation.

Photo 1 monastery: ©Amal Ahmed HBIC 1953-001042
Photo 2 with pond: ©Amal Ahmed HBIC 1953-000293