'Nowadays De Witte Hoeve is a multifunctional complex, fitted with modern facilities, with lots of uses for it’s visitors. But this is only recent, looking at the building’s history. In it’s long and moving history the convent farm had a couple of other frorms.
The history of De Witte Hoeve start a couple of centuries ago, in 1422. At the end of the middle ages there was no building as such, but it was in that year that a couple of women from Venray decided to dedicate their life to God. They adopted some convent rules, took their vow’s and started their life in Jan Wonders’ stead. Later the monastery Jerusalem would rise on this spot with De Witte Hoeve (the white stead) as it’s farmhouse.
Among others, the sisters Augustinessen and from 1838 the sisters Ursulinen, lived in Jerusalem. These sisters were particularly committed to education and in 1840 they opened a boarding school for Roman-Catholic girls from all over the country. They relied on the monastery farm’s income to feed the girls.
In 1888, disaster struck, as most of the monastery burned down. The sisters decided not to give up and contacted the famous architect Cuypers. In 1897 the construction was complete and a new monastery had risen from the ashes.
During the second world war, fate struck again and the monastery was completely destroyed during a bombardment. After the war the building was rebuilt and the monastery and the farm were split up.
Around 1970 it was time for change. In 1972 a part of the stead was redesigned for housing purposes, moving away from it’s traditional use. A couple of years later the farming function was ended altogether. The stead, that carried the name ‘Sjalomhoeve’ by then, was put to use as a boarding school and finally received it’s characteristic white colour. The monastery also received a new function as the new town hall.
The closure of the boarding school ended an era. The ‘Sjalomhoeve’ again received a new purpose. A part of the building was used to house students and the other part was used to hold conferences, meetings and small festivities.
When Jo Piels bought the building in 1994, the success story of De Witte Hoeve begins as a party and conference centre. For a while the success story seems short lived as De Witte Hoeve partially burns down. But yet again the phoenix rises from the ashes. The plans that were in place to expand De Witte Hoeve before the fire, were put to use and this is how you will find De Witte Hoeve today.
Visiting De Witte Hoeve is a pleasure for all. The building now has multiple different sized rooms, where business and private guests alike can arrange the most versatile events. All rooms are air-conditioned and have multiple uses. De Witte Hoeve also has a state of the art kitchen fitted with modern day equipment that can cater to a simple lunch as well as high end dinners for any size of group or party. The weary guest can withdraw in one of our spacious and well equipped hotel rooms that have been added to the building.
That is how De Witte Hoeve has become a striking piece of Venray and will be for many years to come.