Not far from the place where thousands of motorists now pass daily on the Brussels ring, some Augustinian monks found the silence and peace for a contemplative life about six centuries ago. The origin of this Augustinian priory of Groenendaal dates back to 1343, the year in which Duke Jan III of Brabant granted a hermitage to Vranck van Coudenberg in the Zoniënwoud. He settled there with Jan Hinckaert and his nephew Jan van Ruusbroec. In 1795, the monastery was closed by the French Republic, which had become master of the Austrian Netherlands. This marked the definitive end of the priory. Only a few buildings were spared from demolition. On October 1, 1998, they were classified as protected monument.

Dive into the silence and greenery of the Zoniënwoud. Walk through the arboretum of Groenendaal with around 400 tree species.