Stichting Mariapoli Mariënkroon is the national centre of Focolare Movement Nederland. This non-profit ANBI association, has three tracks:
1. The conference centre Abdijhof Marienkroon enables groups and individuals to join and organise meetings, courses, teambuilding, workshops, retreats and many types of events.
Abdijhof Mariënkroon does not have as a primary objective to make profit, but it tries to work in collaboration with the Abdijhof team and its customers according to the principles of the worldwide Focolare project ‘Economy of Communion’ and with the vision and mission of the Focolare movement.
For more information, see https://www.edc-online.org/en/
2. Mission and vision of the Focolare Movement: to promote brotherhood and to achieve a more united world in which people respect and value diversity. To achieve this goal, people of the Focolare Movement engage in various forms of dialogue and are committed to building bridges of fraternal relationships among individuals, between cultural groups and in every area of society.
Projects, courses and events with or without partners within the mission and vision of Focolare, take place at the conference centre Abdijhof Mariënkroon.
For more information, see https://www.focolare.org/nederland/ and https://www.focolare.org/en/
3. Mariënkroon, a local community of about 60 persons, catholic and protestant, families, young adults, consecrated lay people, volunteers, a priest, being mostly active members of the worldwide international Focolare Movement, living partly inside the ‘walls’ of the 9 hectare green area and partly close by outside. Guests can stay for a few days, few weeks or sometimes a few months within the rooms of the conference centre.
Every Tuesday a group of about 30 volunteers come to help for practical work. Mariënkroon also includes other associations working here such as Honsoirde, Heemkunde Onsenoort, Gered gereedschap and Actie Creatief as well as other local organizations.
For more information about the Stichting Mariapoli Mariënkroon and about the rich history of the place Mariënkroon, see www.marienkroon.nl
Astrid Bullens
Reservation agent and Management Assistant
Working since 2004, Astrid takes care of many elements from public relations, communication, secretary work, fund raising and sales assistant for events.
By e-mail: astrid@abdijhof.com
Jean-Marc Ziadé
Sales and Events Manager
Working since May 2020, Jean-Marc takes care of the Sales and Marketing as well as managing the events. Coming from a hotel background, he currently helps to develop projects within the mission of Abdijhof Mariënkroon.
By e-mail: jean-marc@abdijhof.com
Part of our daily Abdijhof Team from Ria, our chef famous for the most delicious soups of Noord-Brabant, Mario taking care of the reception with many other volunteers, Huberdine being host and housekeeper, Jean-Marc and Astrid.
A large team of volunteers is also active everyday to run, help and add value to what makes Mariënkroon unique: our people!
My name is Paul Peters and as secretary of the board, I am also responsible for the daily running of Mariënkroon. For 40 years I have been involved as a volunteer in the Focolare movement and since my (pre-) retirement some 7 years ago, I have had more time to devote to Mariënkroon. Initially, I traveled two days a week back and forth between my former place of residence Heemstede and Nieuwkuijk. Since 2020, I live with my wife in Vlijmen in the immediate vicinity of Mariënkroon.
As a volunteer / board member, I try to contribute to an ideal that strives for unity between all people regardless of religion, belief or origin. The ideal is based on evangelical values. Besides being a board member of Mariënkroon, I am also involved as chairman of the board with the Ark community in Haarlem, part of "l'arche international". And last but not least, together with my wife Cécile, I am parent of 6 children, 4 daughters and 2 sons and 10 grandchildren.
I think it is important that Mariënkroon and its affiliated conference centre "Abdijhof" constantly realise their right to exist and build on this. Openness and involvement with the immediate environment, but also more broadly, a home for many churches, social institutions and NGOs, both national and international. The more commercial activities should also follow the ideal that we are striving for. In short, an idealistic, professional organisation with a plus!
