Abdij Roosenberg
Modernist abbey in Waasmunster by architect Hans van der Laan, open to visitors with a guide on the first Sunday of the month during the season.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
In 1237 sisters from Tournai settled in Waasmunster and founded a community of Victorines under the Rule of St Augustine. In the Middle Ages the abbey was destroyed and rebuilt several times, until after the French Revolution it was confiscated and in 1797 demolished. In 1830 the community was restored.
In the 1970s vocations were lacking, and the abbey merged with the Mariazusters van Franciscus (Marian Sisters of St Francis). The sisters had a new monastery built to a design by the Dutch Benedictine monk Dom Hans van der Laan. The complex was brought into use on 6 August 1975. Not only the building but also the entire interior and furniture are by his hand; the proportions follow a mathematical logic and play with light and shadow.
In 2016 the last sisters left the abbey and moved to the mother house in the centre of Waasmunster. In 2023 the heritage organisation Herita acquired a 50-year leasehold (erfpacht). Herita makes the abbey accessible to visitors and restores the building, including its striking undulating roof.
Highlights
- Masterpiece by Dom Hans van der Laan from 1975
- Building, interior and furniture form one coherent design
- Guided tour or silent walk with a visitor leaflet
- Abbey church open daily from sunrise to sunset
- Operated by
- Herita vzw
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9Young adults aged 19 to 25 |
| Children & teens | €6free up to age 2 · Children aged 3 to 18 pay €6; children under 3 are free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Carers of people with reduced mobility: free. |
| Groups | –Group visit with a guide: €300 per group of up to 20 people (on Fridays €250). |
| Families | €35Family ticket for up to 2 adults and 4 (young) children. |
| Group visit with a guide (max. 20 people, on request) | €300On Fridays €250; the visit lasts about 90 minutes. |
Herita members and INTO members have free admission. Online tickets are available.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The ground floor is fully wheelchair accessible; the upper floor is not. There is no wheelchair-accessible toilet, but some toilets are spacious enough to use with assistance. Pets are not allowed, only guide dogs.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €35 · Family ticket for up to 2 adults and 4 (young) children. |
Children from the age of 3 pay a child rate; a family ticket is available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus 82 from Sint-Niklaas towards Waasmunster, then about 20 minutes on foot. From Lokeren, call bus 270 (to be booked in advance), stop 187. The nearest railway stations are Sint-Niklaas and Lokeren.
By car
Parking available
There is a car park for the abbey.
By car: E17 exit 13 towards Waasmunster; after 400 metres turn right and follow the arrows to Abdij Roosenberg. By bike: the abbey lies between cycle junctions 32 and 37.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
There is no catering in the abbey; there are places to eat in the vicinity.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
The abbey can be rented for meetings, congresses and workshops; photo shoots and film recordings are also possible.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | On the opening Sundays you can join a guided tour, or take a silent walk with the visitor leaflet. Groups book a tour of about 90 minutes. |
