There were good reasons to build the Abbey on the spot that was chosen.
For many centuries people had lived here in small farmers’ settlements. The soil was sufficiently dry to build upon and there was meadow land nearby.
In those days Egmond lay to the north of the IJ-river estuary, a branch of the river Rhine which flowed out into the sea near the site of the present-day village of Castricum. On both sides of this estuary there were long stretches of dunes running from north to south. Between these ridges of high ground there were coastal plains which regularly flooded.
Egmond Abbey was built on one of those ridges, commanding a splendid view across the coastal plain between Egmond and the site of the present-day village of Heiloo. From far and wide one could see the Abbey towering over the landscape.
The monks of Egmond set about building dikes connecting the ridges of dunes, thus reclaiming vast areas of land. The best-known of these dikes is the Zanddijk near the present-day village of Limmen.
Pictures of the early Abbey show vegetable gardens and bleaching fields. Quite near the Abbey a plot of land called “The Wingerd” (The Vine) still bears witness to the vineyard that was once cultivated here.
The present Abbey has a spacious garden including an arboretum and lots of Budleia bushes. The garden is renowned for its many butterflies. There is also an orchard. The gardens are not open to the public.