Norbertine walk in Eindhout

In 2021, it will be 900 years since Norbert of Gennep founded his Order. Through the abbeys of Averbode and Tongerlo, so-called “White Monks” or Norbertines came to serve as parish priests in our parishes. To shed light on the work of the Norbertines in the Laakdal parishes, the Laakdal Working Group for History and Local History (LWGH) mapped out a “historical walk” in Eindhout.

The first mentions of Endehot and Endeholt date back to the early 1200s. In 1252, the Berthout family granted the right of patronage—the right to appoint the parish priest and collect tithes—to Averbode Abbey. The Norbertines administered this parish for approximately 750 years.

Eindhout was an independent municipality until 1977. It belonged to the Land of Geel, initially as a simple hamlet and, from around the 1300s, as a municipality with a magistrate’s court. Eindhouthamme was also long a separate municipality under the abbot of Tongerlo. However, both Eindhout and Eindhoutham formed a single parish.

For this tour, we will focus on the main theme—religion—centered on the Norbertines. We will discuss socio-cultural life to a lesser extent.

📏 5.5 km
📍 Pastorij Eindhout, Norbertijnenstraat 10, 2430 Laakdal
🏁 Pastorij Eindhout, Norbertijnenstraat 10, 2430 Laakdal