Mariënkroon is located on the site of the former castle of Onsenoort, whose monumental medieval tower is still in good condition. The historical name Onsenoort (Honsoirde) lives on in Nieuwkuijk in the guild, the Brass Band and the Local Historical Society.  The domain was bought in 1904 by the Monastic Order of the Cistercians of Pont Colbert (near Versailles) mainly to temporarily escape the then still bleak climate for religious orders in France. They were to stay for over a century. In 1957, Mariënkroon was elevated to the status of abbey. During the war years, the residents of Mariënkroon more and more began to provide assistance in the surrounding parishes, gradually giving the monastic community an increasingly open character.

Then, from mid-October 1944, the weeks before the liberation of the region arrive. Almost continuously, tanks and guns on the south side of the Drongelens Canal fire shells at the church towers of Drunen and Nieuwkuijk and their surroundings. But Mariënkroon is far enough away from that, in a kind of no

no man's land between the villages and so offers a safe refuge. Through their knowledge of the castle and involvement in building work from 1904 onwards, the local population was aware that the complex of Mariënkroon has extensive and very solid cellars and corridors.

An ever-increasing flow of people, mostly from the immediate area, report at the gates. It is estimated that over 1,700 people find shelter here. It becomes a tremendous logistical operation to be able to house all these people, provide them with food, care for the sick. Nine children are even born. All these children were named Bernadette or Bernard, after the founder of the order, Saint Bernard.

On 5 November 1945, exactly one year after the liberation, the inhabitants of Nieuwkuijk donated the statue ‘The Good Samaritan’ to ‘the Poaters’ out of gratitude, because that is how Mariënkroon is still popularly referred to. In 2002, the grounds were transferred to the Focolare movement. In 2016 and 2017, the last two Fathers died, including Abbot Gerardus Hopstaken, and therefore Mariënkroon now lives on without the designation of ‘Abbey’.