Wittevrouwen

Title

Wittevrouwen

Also Known As

Albae Dominae, Conventus Beate Marie Magdalene Albarum Dominarum in Ultrajecto

Dates

Founded ca. 1226; Premonstratensian from mid-14th c.; Protestant secular canonesses from ca. 1580; dissolved 1797

Dedication

Mary Magdalene

Medieval Diocese

Utrecht

Circary

Frisia

History

Wittevrouwen was founded ca. 1226 as a community of sisters of the Order of St Mary Magdalene. At some point ca. 1326-1365, the community appears to have adopted the Premonstratensian rule and/or identity, apparently without formally affiliating with the order.

From the Reformation, Wittevrouwen was a house of Protestant secular canonesses. The community was suppressed in 1797.

Status

Women's community

Archival Sources

Utrecht, Het Utrechts Archief

1005-5 (14th-18th c.; Finding Aid)

Bibliography

Hofman, J.H. “De Witte Vrouwen te Utrecht.” Archief voor de geschiedenis van het Aartsbisdom Utrecht 32 (1907): 117–230. https://archive.org/details/archiefvoordege01unkngoog/page/n127/mode/2up.

Van Campen, J.W.C. “Stichting en status van het Wittevrouwenklooster te Utrecht.” Archief voor de geschiedenis van de Katholieke Kerk in Nederland 17 (1975): 101–30.

Van Lommel, A. “Het Wittevrouwen-klooster te Utrecht, annis 1556 en 1576.” Archief voor de geschiedenis van het aartsbisdom Utrecht 3 (1876): 398–406. https://books.google.com/books?id=nd3NAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA398.

Image Credit

The Wittevrouwenklooster, ca. 1725. Wikimedia.

Files

Collection

Frisia

Citation

“Wittevrouwen,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/636.

Geolocation