New life is coming to the oldest monastery in the Netherlands!

Feb 12

New life is gradually returning to the Emmaus Monastery in Velp, the oldest Capuchin monastery in the Netherlands (1645). After ten years without resident brothers, the historic complex is preparing to welcome a new international Capuchin community.

Brother Christophorus, who has already relocated to Velp, believes the building carries something intangible. “You can feel the centuries of silence and shared life in these walls,” he reflects. For him, the monastery is not only a monument — it is a living space shaped by simplicity, faith and community.

While monastic communities are declining in many parts of the Netherlands, six new brothers from different countries are expected to arrive in January, marking a hopeful new chapter.

Preparations are already underway. Together with Monumentenwacht Brabant — a partner in the INPERSO project — a team recently supported the clearing of the monastery’s attic, removing decades of stored furniture and unused materials. As one participant remarked while sorting through old objects, “Not everything old is heritage — but everything tells a story.”

This hands-on intervention reflects the broader mission of INPERSO: combining heritage preservation with practical maintenance, energy-conscious upgrading and social reactivation. The monastery has already hosted social care activities, retreats and small-scale production, and with the return of the Capuchins, it is preparing to enter a new phase — one where history, sustainability and community life come together once again.

And, as Brother Christophorus said, with sip of coffee.