Experience the Spirituality of Our Lady of Nazareth Abbey

Since 1950, the Our Lady of Nazareth Abbey in Brecht has been home to Trappist nuns living a contemplative life. Their existence revolves around prayer and labour, following Saint Benedict’s rule of “ora et labora” (pray and work). The nuns create garments for clergy, flags, and candles. Their best-selling products are natural soaps, including hand soap, shower gel, bubble bath, shampoo, and floor soap. The modest proceeds from these items sustain the Trappist nuns in their daily lives.

Discover the handcrafted soap and exclusive bath linens by the Trappist nuns

Since 1964, the abbey has been producing soap under the TRAPP brand name. The Trappist nuns use ingredients such as aloe vera, lavender, and red juniper for TRAPP’s artisanal soap and care products. Their flagship line is based on Westmalle Dubbel, a Trappist beer. This beer-infused line offers a delightful fragrance, ensuring a unique washing experience. The beer’s polyphenols, minerals, vitamins, and trace elements also benefit the skin and hair.

While the Trappist nuns used to create their church textiles in a dedicated weaving studio, the weaving activities were dormant for many years. However, in 2021, the Trappist nuns resumed textile production. They introduced a line of high-quality bath linens made of 100% cotton in sleek, fashionable colours. Thanks to the straight, long loops (known as zero-twist quality), the bath linens feel exceptionally soft and absorbent, making them ideal for individuals with sensitive skin.

At B&B De Kasteelhoeve, you can enjoy a part of the TRAPP collection, as we equip all bathrooms with hand soap, shower gel, shampoo, and body lotion from the abbey. The incredibly soft and voluminous towels from Trapp also adorn our B&B bathrooms.

Take a pleasant bike ride to the Trappist nuns' Abbey

A scenic 20-minute bike ride from De Kasteelhoeve takes you to the beautiful nature of Brechtse Heide, where you’ll find the Our Lady of Nazareth Abbey. The Trappist route also passes through this area. You can purchase all products created by the Trappist nuns of Brecht in the abbey shop of Our Lady of Nazareth Abbey. The abbey church is open for prayer and for those who wish to light a candle.

You can also purchase some of the soap and textile products of the Trappist nuns at B&B De Kasteelhoeve. It’s a perfect souvenir for someone back home or a delightful treat to buy for yourself.