In the spotlight

Staf Kamers installed his first hives at the abbey's tithe barn in the 1980s. Now there is a beautiful, modern bee shed with 15 to 20 hives. Staf is re-establishing one of the abbey's original functions. 

Filip Noël, a monk and financial administrator at Abdij van Park, still lives together with four Norbertine monks at the abbey. “If we weren’t here, it would just be an old abbey.”

Myriam runs the Abbey shop. Over the past five years, this has grown from a head of lettuce under an umbrella into a fully fledged organic shop. “I’ve even had someone come in asking to buy consecrated wafers!”

We save treasures in the Park Abbey archive. One of these is a manuscript of the doctoral dissertation written by Professor Henri M.D.A.L. Torfs… better known as Rik. How did it get there?

The new Peace carillon will resound from the tower of the abbey church on November 11. One man will glow with pride: university carillonneur Luc Rombouts, who is behind the reconstruction.

Zeger Debyser is the chairman of the non-profit organisation ‘Friends of Park Abbey’. The Friends help to make the heritage accessible, to maintain the gardens, and to support the Abbey’s image. “Together, we make it even more beautiful here.”

The KWB Park Heverlee stands for social commitment. “We organise numerous activities, including the Park Festivities, brunches, excursions, etc. The goal is to bring people together”, explains chairman Johny Behets.

On a voluntary basis, local residents are unlocking the archives of Park Abbey. “You need to have a certain passion for old documents, and to sense when you are stumbling onto something valuable. But we form a good team”, 

Brecht Goussey (46) is one of the three farmers who run small-scale organic farms on the Abbey site. Brecht and his colleagues founded 'De BoerEnCompagnie' in 2017. “I always wanted to be a farmer when I was little."

André Kockaerts (72) may have spent more time on the Abbey site than anyone else. He is sexton, organist, choir leader, and much more. And he also has the gift of the gab...

On 2 September, all eyes were on an unusual PhD candidate in the Promotion Hall of KU Leuven. Jozef (Jef) Van Osta, prior of Park Abbey, defended his thesis there on the history of organ building in Averbode Abbey. His thesis is 570 pages thick!

Wilfried Van de Sande has been coming to Park Abbey since he was little. All thanks to his grandfather, who used to live in the Maria gate. "I even thought of starting a restaurant there once!”

Frank Mertens at the ‘De Abdijmolen’ brasserie strings his superlatives together when it comes to the Park Abbey. “No wonder our terrace is always full,” he smiles.

Even before the restoration, 'Church In Need' came to Park Abbey. "We have upgraded the Wagon House and now help to safeguard the religious character of the abbey," Uma and Marina of the charity organization tell.

Bulgarian tourist Aneliya visited the abbey site together with a friend who lives here in Belgium. She was deeply impressed. “This place has a soul. It’s like the abbey is wrapped in mysticism and silence.”

Sofie and her family live close to the Abdij van Park. “We’re really city people, but very much enjoy wandering around the Abbey."

Professor Paul De Grauwe (71) has been visiting Park Abbey for years. “It's an important place, both religiously and culturally. I’ve passed by there many times during my career, but now I go there more than ever.”

Mercy Sylvan Nafulah (26) discovered the abbey thanks to her boyfriend Marcel, who planned their romantic first date there. It was perfect. “When we’re here, we really make time for each other,” Sylvan says happily.

Charlotte (22) and her dog Spike take walks through Park Abbey three or four times every day. “We enjoy the birds, the peace, the ponds… There is always something to see – I come home with a new story every day.”

Birdwatcher Jogchum (41) often takes his children to Abdij van Park. “There are so many great animal species there. My sons are seeing these animals for the first time and their enthusiasm is infectious.”

Amateur photographer Chantale comes to the Abbey site. “The way the light falls on the Park Abbey is particularly beautiful. When you go for a walk there, you constantly have something different in your line of view.”

Park Abbey is where Jana goes to find peace and quiet. “It’s close to the city, yet the city feels very far away. Here you can forget the pressures of daily life for a little while.”

Sarah, 25, thinks Park Abbey is a fantastic place to spend time. “If you visit the Abbey often enough, you’ll see that the seasons are clearly defined here!”

Karen often takes a stack of books with her to Park Abbey. “I thinks it’s the idyllic place to devour a book. It is absolutely silent, letting you get fully immersed in the story.”

Cyclist Sven often passes through Park Abbey. “There is nothing that gets on your nerves at the abbey: no traffic, no ugly buildings along the road… Being there makes me feel truly happy.”

Manuel from the Netherlands visited Park Abbey together with his girlfriend, Leilani, 25. “We fully enjoyed the ambiance of the Abbey. There’s nothing like it in Amsterdam.”

Asli Tezcan and her family are fervent visitors of parks all over the world. Recenlty, the Park Abbey gained a special place in their heart.

Mano Jai (23) got to know the abbey as a student. “In my third year I chanced upon the abbey. Suddenly I was surrounded by green splendour! I fell in love instantly.”

Raf has lived near the abbey for more than 10 years. He sees the site every day. “It is a beautiful nature reserve close to the city and near my home."

Eline (31) likes to spend her free time taking walks. “I regularly go to Park Abbey because it’s so beautiful there. While I’m walking there, I like to reminisce about my grandparents, who brought me to the abbey site when I was young,” she says.

Raj and his wife discovered the abbey together. "We just ended up here while we were out walking. And I still love to walk as much as I did back then."