Klooster van de Augustijnen

In the heart of the Belgian city of Tienen lies the enchanting Klooster van de Augustijnen, a former monastery with a rich history dating back to the 17th century. This historic site, once a hub of religious and educational activity, now stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Augustinian order in the region.

The Founding of the Monastery

Before the establishment of the Augustinian monastery, education in Tienen was primarily provided by the Carmelites in the chapter school. However, in 1615, prelate Nicolas de Tombeur noted that the citizens of Tienen preferred the Augustinians as educators. Supported by the Habsburg military leader Ambrosius Spinola, the Augustinians were invited to settle in Tienen, opposite the Saint Barbara Chapel. They acquired a large plot of land between Broekstraat, Dr. J. Geensstraat, Danebroekstraat, and the Grote Markt, where the first stone of the monastery was laid in 1610. By 1617, they had received permission from the city to teach.

The Augustinians committed themselves to providing the best possible education, focusing on piety and civic morals. They were determined to ensure that children did not engage in street games or other inappropriate activities. The rector of the monastery was to receive an annual salary of 50 guilders for his work. In 1617, the Augustinians acquired the Saint Barbara Chapel, and by 1622, construction of the new monastery complex, Monasterium Thenense, began. The monastery included a large house with a refectory, kitchen, and guest rooms, although no plans of the original buildings have survived.

Periods of Turmoil

Just as the Augustinians settled into their new buildings, Tienen faced significant turmoil. Tens of thousands of French and Dutch soldiers advanced towards the city, and the Habsburg Spaniards fortified Tienen as a defensive bulwark for their territories in Flanders and Brabant. On June 8, 1635, the Prince of Orange issued an ultimatum to the city, which the citizens refused to comply with. The Spanish commander fled the city, leaving even the Augustinians to be armed and drafted to defend the city walls. The prior of the monastery, Walterus Lipsius, took command of his warrior-teachers on the city ramparts. Despite the challenges, the Augustinians quickly repaired the damage to the monastery buildings caused during the siege.

After the siege, the Augustinians resumed their focus on education, producing influential alumni such as historian Nicolaus de Tombeur, jurist Hubert de Tombeur, and philosopher Joannes-Germanus Landeloos. The latter was honored in the city but tragically died after falling from his horse. In 1702, the school was closed in favor of the Bogaeden, but the Augustinians successfully contested this decision in the Council of Brabant, allowing them to resume teaching. In 1764, the city recognized the Augustinians as capable and learned masters.

Recent History

In the 18th century, Tienen came under Austrian rule, and the monastery once again played a role in the city's history. In 1769, Nicolas Minsart, a student at the Augustinian college, joined the patriots during the Brabant Revolution, demonstrating his determination by capturing a cannon from Austrian soldiers. In 1781, the order to demolish Tienen's city walls led to the formation of the Volunteer Corps of Patriots, led by brewer Jan Windelinckx. The commander of the Austrian troops lodged in the monastery during this time.

By January 1783, Tienen was a flourishing city with a thriving grain trade, a salt refinery, a nitrate factory, a soap factory, and twelve oil mills. The Augustinians continued to teach the humanities. However, a few years later, the French took control, closing all monasteries, including the Augustinians, in 1796. Napoleon himself visited Tienen several times, and evidence suggests his troops stayed in the former monastery.

In 1798, the monastery was sold as national property to wealthy families, but a fire in 1822 destroyed much of the complex. The Saint Barbara Chapel and the guest house disappeared in 1825. In 1834, the priory came into the possession of Louis Verlat, whose family founded a potato flour factory in 1850, which later became the Tienen sugar factory. The building eventually came into the possession of Dr. Jozef Geens, the founder of the Tienen hospital.

Preserved Legacy

The priory along Danebroekstraat is the remaining part of the monastery. This stately building, constructed from a combination of local Gobertange sandstone, fieldstones, and oak, showcases the craftsmanship of the era. The Gobertange stones, all hand-carved, were likely transported to the city by flat-bottomed boats along the Grote Gete and finished on-site. The construction required at least seventy tons of natural stone and a hundred oak trees for the woodwork. Nearly a million fieldstones were hand-formed and baked from Hageland clay.

The monastery's garden and orchard, which extended to Broekstraat, have been partially preserved. The garden features an 18th-century ginkgo tree, also known as a Japanese nut tree, planted in the monastery garden. The garden has been a protected cityscape since 1999, and the ginkgo tree is a protected monument.

The Klooster van de Augustijnen in Tienen is not just a historical site but a living testament to the resilience and dedication of the Augustinian order. Its walls and gardens whisper tales of a bygone era, inviting visitors to step back in time and explore the rich heritage of this remarkable place.