Steyl
Encyclopedia
Steyl is a village in the municipality of Venlo
(Tegelen
district) in the Netherlands
and is best known as a monastery
village.
river Meuse. A ferry connects Steyl with Baarlo. Steyl in the past has often had to deal with flooding, due to the high level of the Meuse. The last two major floods were in 1993 and 1995. During these floods was much of Old Steyl flooded.
Steyl is divided into two areas:
and modern times
a port on the Meuse for unloading marl
, wine
, coal
and other items for the Gulick
hinterland. This brought great wealth to Steyler merchants, especially in the 18th century. Some of the merchants built a large mansion from the revenues earned by their trade as the family's estate Moubis by the family Moubis. The old port on the Maas is now gone but the houses are still forming a picturesque village image of a glorious past. The estate was eventually sold by the family Moubis to a monastic community of nuns which then significantly expanded it with a church and monastery buildings.The village had four congregation
s in the past century, each with their own monastery. Most monasteries were in the 70s of the 19th century at Steyl founded by the German Father Arnold Janssen
. He had emigrated to the Netherlands because in the newly founded German Empire
, the Catholic Church was put under pressure by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
in the Kulturkampf
. He founded the Divine Word Missionaries
(official called Society of the Divine Word (Latin: Societas Verbi Divini, abbreviated SVD), a worldwide catholic missionary congregation. Today the congregation is active in more than 70 countries. His monastic community today includes two mission congregations, one congregation for worship and a congregation of sisters. A fourth congregation of sisters has since then left Steyl. Father Arnold Janssen was on October 5, 2003 in Rome by Pope John Paul II
canonized.
until early last century. Only in 1933 was Steyl by Bishop Lemmens of Roermond elevated to independent parish.
in Venlo. This is an extensive collection on display, based on the experiences of the SVD Fathers. These priests travelled, from 1875 on, around the world and have all contributed to the collection. A short summary: animals from the polar regions and the South America
n jungles, costumes from China
and artefacts from Indonesia
. A more sinister element of the exhibition exhibits clothes from two Steyler monks worn by them when they were killed with spear punches during the Boxer Rebellion
(1899–1901) in China. Still you see the blood stains and holes in the clothes made by the spears. The uniqueness of this museum is that the arrangement of the collection has not been substantially changed since its inception and is still that of the 19th century.
Another museum is the botanical garden
Jochum Hof named after the SVD biology teacher Father Peter Jochum.
Also in Steyl is the Limburgs Schutterij Museum. This museum was a collection of clothes and attributes from many of Limburgs Schutterij
organisations (see also militia
). This museum, however, was in April 10, 2008 struck by fire. Part of the collection could be saved, but the damage to the old building is significant. The foundation behind the museum is still renovating the building at the same place and continue to exhibit the collection.
Venlo
Venlo is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands, next to the German border. It is situated in the province of Limburg.In 2001, the municipalities of Belfeld and Tegelen were merged into the municipality of Venlo. Tegelen was originally part of the Duchy of Jülich centuries ago,...
(Tegelen
Tegelen
Tegelen is a village in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. It was an independent municipality until 2001, when it was merged into the municipality of Venlo.-Tiglian:...
district) in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and is best known as a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
village.
Location
Steyl is on the right bank of the LimburgicLimburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
river Meuse. A ferry connects Steyl with Baarlo. Steyl in the past has often had to deal with flooding, due to the high level of the Meuse. The last two major floods were in 1993 and 1995. During these floods was much of Old Steyl flooded.
Steyl is divided into two areas:
- (1) Former Steyl: The old center, located west of the Roermondseweg, the main road in Tegelen.
- (2) New Steyl: The new area, located east of the Roermondseweg. In popular parlance, this area called Alland.
History
Steyl was in the late Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and modern times
Modern history
Modern history, or the modern era, describes the historical timeline after the Middle Ages. Modern history can be further broken down into the early modern period and the late modern period after the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution...
a port on the Meuse for unloading marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
, wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and other items for the Gulick
Duchy of Jülich
The Duchy of Jülich comprised a state within the Holy Roman Empire from the 11th to the 18th centuries. The duchy lay left of the Rhine river between the Electorate of Cologne in the east and the Duchy of Limburg in the west. It had territories on both sides of the river Rur, around its capital...
hinterland. This brought great wealth to Steyler merchants, especially in the 18th century. Some of the merchants built a large mansion from the revenues earned by their trade as the family's estate Moubis by the family Moubis. The old port on the Maas is now gone but the houses are still forming a picturesque village image of a glorious past. The estate was eventually sold by the family Moubis to a monastic community of nuns which then significantly expanded it with a church and monastery buildings.The village had four congregation
Congregation
A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship:* Local church* Congregation , an administrative body of the Roman Catholic Church...
s in the past century, each with their own monastery. Most monasteries were in the 70s of the 19th century at Steyl founded by the German Father Arnold Janssen
Arnold Janssen
Saint Arnold Janssen, S.V.D., was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary, and is venerated as a saint. He is best known for founding the Society of the Divine Word, a Roman Catholic missionary religious congregation, also known as the Divine Word Missionaries, as well as two congregations for...
. He had emigrated to the Netherlands because in the newly founded German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, the Catholic Church was put under pressure by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
in the Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
. He founded the Divine Word Missionaries
Divine Word Missionaries
The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
(official called Society of the Divine Word (Latin: Societas Verbi Divini, abbreviated SVD), a worldwide catholic missionary congregation. Today the congregation is active in more than 70 countries. His monastic community today includes two mission congregations, one congregation for worship and a congregation of sisters. A fourth congregation of sisters has since then left Steyl. Father Arnold Janssen was on October 5, 2003 in Rome by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
canonized.
Church
The village was a rectoryRectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
until early last century. Only in 1933 was Steyl by Bishop Lemmens of Roermond elevated to independent parish.
Museums
The Mission Museum is the oldest museumMuseum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Venlo. This is an extensive collection on display, based on the experiences of the SVD Fathers. These priests travelled, from 1875 on, around the world and have all contributed to the collection. A short summary: animals from the polar regions and the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n jungles, costumes from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and artefacts from Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. A more sinister element of the exhibition exhibits clothes from two Steyler monks worn by them when they were killed with spear punches during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
(1899–1901) in China. Still you see the blood stains and holes in the clothes made by the spears. The uniqueness of this museum is that the arrangement of the collection has not been substantially changed since its inception and is still that of the 19th century.
Another museum is the botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
Jochum Hof named after the SVD biology teacher Father Peter Jochum.
Also in Steyl is the Limburgs Schutterij Museum. This museum was a collection of clothes and attributes from many of Limburgs Schutterij
Schutterij
Schutterij refers to a voluntary city guard or citizen militia in the medieval and early modern Netherlands, intended to protect the town or city from attack and act in case of revolt or fire. Their training grounds were often on open spaces within the city, near the city walls, but, when the...
organisations (see also militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
). This museum, however, was in April 10, 2008 struck by fire. Part of the collection could be saved, but the damage to the old building is significant. The foundation behind the museum is still renovating the building at the same place and continue to exhibit the collection.
Sources
- A.J. Welschen 2000-2005: Course Dutch Society and Culture, International School for Humanities and Social Studies ISHSS, Universiteit van Amsterdam