Great Seminary, Bruges: Context view of facade and side of the main building facing the canal

The Abbey of the Dunes, or 'Ter Duinen', was established in 1128 in Koksijde, and grew into one of the most prestigious Cistercian abbeys in medieval Europe. In 1624 the Abbey of the Dunes took over the Ter Doest estate and immediately chose this as the site on which to erect a completely new abbey. The first phase of construction was completed in 1642; building continued until 1790. The abbey was suppressed (1796) in the French revolution. The buildings were first used as a military hospital and then as a military depot and a grammar school before they were eventually taken over by the Great Seminary in 1833, which trains Roman Catholic priests.