The Carmelites in Amstelveen.
One
of the Carmelite monasteries in the Netherlands is situated in Amstelveen.
A city of 80 thousand inhabitants 10 km near Schiphol Airport. The
monastery (klooster) was
built in 1969 and
inhabited by Carmelite sisters. Carmelites friars had their
monastery built in 1964 in the centre of Amstelveen. In 1993 a few
friars changed location and took over a part of the present
monastery. In 2001 the last Carmelite sisters moved out.
Carmelite
presence
In
the late fifties Carmelites came to Amstelveen. The bishop of
Haarlem entrusted a new parish (Our Lady of Mount Carmel) to the
Carmelite Order. Friars were also working at high schools, on
the Theological University of Amsterdam (KTHA) and gave
spiritual guidance to religious. They were active in the ecumenical
movement and gave pastoral care to youth and Spanish speaking
migrants. Many young Carmelites were studying at different
Universities of Amsterdam.
In
the early nineties the parish of Our lady of Mount Carmel joined the
Thabor parish which church adjoins the monastery. The parish is now
called Titus Brandsma
parochie. Named after the Carmelite martyr Titus
Brandsma (eng)
Raakpunt
Besides
parish ministry, the present Carmelite community takes part in Raakpunt,
a Carmelite centre of spirituality. Raakpunt offers a varied program
of meeting groups on Bible, mystical texts, personal spirituality,
films, music and icon painting. Members of the community are also
available for spiritual guidance.
Prayermeetings
Prayermeetings
can be attended on Tuesday until Friday at 8.30 AM and 18.00 PM).
Holy mass: timetable parish
Lay
Carmelites
In
the Netherlands lay Carmelites are organised in ‘Karmelbeweging’ (Carmelite
movement). Also in Amstelveen lay
Carmelites are present.
How to contact us
By
e-mail or phone: (020) 6419555
Monastery
attainable:
By
bus or/and tram:
At the busstation of Amstelveen you take the bus to Oranjebaan (leaving
at viaduct (fly-over) Beneluxbaan). Take tram 5 or 51 (direction
Amsterdam). Next station is Onderuit. Leaving Onderuit station you
can walk to Westelijk Halfrond 3-A.
Leaving
Amsterdam, take
tram 5 or metro 51. After passing Zonnestein station, you leave
at Onderuit.
Leaving
Onderuit station, go
down, turn to your left and walk towards the little hill; go to the
left and follow the little ditch untill you reach the church and
monastery at Westelijk Halfrond 3-A.
By
car:
leaving
highway A-9 at Amstelveen-Ouderkerk a/d Amstel, go down untill
crossing Oranjebaan. Turn to your left untill reaching a fly-over at
your right. Entering the Beneluxbaan untill the first traffic lights,
turn to the right untill reaching a filling station. Turn tot the
right. This road will bring you to Westelijk Halfrond 3-A.
Direction
Amsterdam:
Follow ‘Buitenveldertselaan’ and the ‘Beneluxbaan’ untill
Zonnestein (tram station). Turn to your left and continue untill
reaching a filling station. Turn to your right. This road wil bring
you to Westelijk Halfrond 3-A.
