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Ten Duinen

According to tradition, the Abbey of the Dunes originated out of the hermitage of Ligerius (1107). The small community formed around him, joined the reformed Benedictines of Savigny in 1128. Abbot Fulco turns the abbey in 1138 over to Bernardus of Clairvaux. The growth of the abbey takes place in the 12th and 13th century. The estate of the abbey counts at its peak about 10.000 hectares. Towards the end of the 14th century the abbey lands in a downward spiral. The exploitation of the vast territory has become the Achilles heel of the community in Koksijde. In 1566 the abbey is sacked by Beggars of the wood. The monks take shelter in their urban refugiae. By their return to Koksijde at the beginning of the 17th century the monks take up residence in the nearest abbey farm Ten Bogaerde. In 1627 they moved to Bruges. The following decennia the dunes buried the remains of the abbey under the sand. By this and by the ascending coastal tourism the remains of the abbey are nowadays located in a residential area.

Today the site is managed by the township of Koksijde. The archaeological site of the former Abbey of the Dunes is a part of the municipal Abbey Museum of the Dunes 1138. The permanent presentation gives the visitor an idea of daily life within the medieval abbey. During the year the township organizes several public events on the former grounds of the abbey like open-air theatre and open-air exhibitions of modern art.