Herkenrode Abbey

The Experience Centre

The Experience Centre presents to you the story of one of the first and especially the richest convents in the Netherlands in an authentic historic context via an audio guide (or with your own smartphone).

The interesting story of the abbess will take you back in time telling about the hard decisions, the importance of Herkenrode as a pilgrimage site, about the presence of an influential patrons, …  In short, discover yourself the chronological trail of 600 years of women on Herkenrode.

Must see & do

• The abbess tells! Get to know the former residents through all kinds of sound clips. 
• In 1826, a fire destroyed the 16th-century abbey church. View a reconstruction in the experience center.
• Short on time? The fast route with 8 login points gives you a concise picture of the entire history of Herkenrode.

The Herb and Inspiration Garden

The Herb and Inspiration Garden, two hectares big, is a contemporary herb garden with a particular architecture.

You will find over 500 different herbs and herbaceous plants surrounded by canals and other water elements.

The garden is the perfect spot to admire the impressive environment.

Must see & do

• Walk through our photographic foliage corridor
• Read the hour on the sundial with your own shadow.
• Discover the Hortus Officinalis: The Hortus Officinalis comprises twelve sections. You can walk from section to section through a long corrider. Every section has its own structure with walking paths covered with shell lime, gravel, nature stone, ... Water basins and fountains provide a general sense of peace and quiet.

• Discover the Campus officinalis: The second part of the garden comprises the Campus Officinalis, where the herbs have been grouped according to use: herbs for dye, vegetables, kitchen herbs, ...

The Quiet View 

'The Quiet View' is a permanent work of art, where the spectator sees an endlessly sculpture landscape.

This work of art is on the same spot where the former abbey church used to be located. For this reason, it adds a spiritual dimension to it. This quiet spot is suitable for meditation, entirely in line with the idea of an abbey site.