Val Dieu Abbey

Val Dieu Abbey, under Abbot Albéric Steiger, was a center of resistance during the Second World War.

It grew into a center for resistance against the German occupation and a safe haven for persecuted persons. Two monks, Father Hugo (Karel Jacobs, from Antwerp) and Father Stephanus (Piet Mühren, from Bergen op Zoom) were active in the resistance network Clarence. When their resistance activities were brought to light by infiltrators in the German service, they were arrested. On October 9, 1943, they were executed together with other members of the resistance in the Fort at Rijnauwen, near Utrecht. A stela in the abbey church pays tribute to the two monks.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz + TracesOfWar
• Photos: Kees Meuzelaar (1), Gerry van Liempt (2, 3, 4, 5)