Today ten Benedictine monks still live and work in the Abbey of St Peter and St Paul, an island of tranquillity in the town.
After the devastation of the First World War a new abbey was built in Flemish Neo-Renaissance style. The abbey church, elevated to a basilica in 1939, retained its Neo-Gothic appearance.
The abbey opens its doors to the public just once a year, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Whit Monday, but you can visit the Abbey's church and buy abbey beer and wine all year round. The drinks can be purchased in the Liturgisch Kunstapostolaat (Liturgical Art Apostolate), Dijkstraat 32-34.
