516 YEARS OF STUDYING FROM REVENUES OF ESTATES

Your study grant for a course in the Netherlands or abroad

SINT GEERTRUIDSLEEN FROM ABBEGA

Sint Geertruidsleen was originally a family fund that was established in 1508 by parish priest Goffa Attama. His object was to enable his relatives to study for priest. Much has changed over the years, but what still stands is that people can still study with financial support from the Sint Geertruidsleen Foundation.

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Under Information on Application for a Scholarship are the conditions to be met to qualify for a scholarship. The funds for a scholarship are obtained from the proceeds of 113 hectare of farmland around Abbega.

Goffa Attama was a parish priest in Easterein, who had it recorded in his will that people in his native village of Abbega had to pray for the salvation of his soul. Therefore, he founded a leen that was to be used to pay the priest who performed this task.

People no longer pray for lord Goffa nowadays, but his will is still respected. Thanks to his last will, many students from the Netherlands and abroad receive study grants. Lord Goffa will never have thought that his fund would ever become an internationally known study grant. The Reformation, the French era, and increasing government intervention contributed to this. In addition, many family feuds over lord Goffa’s estate shaped the history of the funds at decisive moments, for the priest who was going to pray for Goffa’s soul had to be a relative.

In the course of time, the fund was used by diligent students as well as shrewd profiteers. Different branches of the family challenged or supported each other for receiving the proceeds from the fund. Since the end of the 19th century, applicants from outside the family have been qualified for an allowance. Women were still sidelined at the time. It was not until April 1940 that the first female student was accepted, but only after much toing and froing.

TESTIMONIALS

SINT GEERTRUIDSLEEN FOUNDATION EXPLAINED

Abbega

Abbega is small rural village in Southwest Friesland. Abbega was Goffa Attema’s native village.

On the right are several photos from the surrounding area of Abbega.

The Sint Geertruiden fund (or loan), which gave hundreds of students the opportunity to study, has its origin in this village.

Goffa Attama

Goffa Attama was a parish priest in Easterein, who had it recorded in his will that people in his native village of Abbega had to pray for the salvation of his soul. Therefore, he founded a fund that was to be used to pay the priest who performed this task.

People no longer pray for lord Goffa nowadays, but his will is still respected. Thanks to his last will, many students from the Netherlands and abroad receive study grants. Lord Goffa will never have thought that his fund would ever become an internationally known study grant.

Goffa Attama’s grave

Goffa’s gravestone can be seen in Martinikerk, the church in Easterein.

The Martinikerk was built in the 14th century and is situated on a moated knoll in the Frisian village of Easterein.

Documents

Goffa Attama was a parish priest in Easterein, who had it recorded in his will that people in his native village of Abbega had to pray for the salvation of his soul. Therefore, he founded a fund that was to be used to pay the priest who performed this task.

People no longer pray for lord Goffa nowadays, but his will is still respected. Thanks to his last will, many students from the Netherlands and abroad receive study grants. Lord Goffa will never have thought that his fund would ever become an internationally known study grant.