1120 began Norbert of Xanten in the remote valley of Prémontré (Latin: Praemonstratum) in north-eastern France with the construction of a monastery. The following year he and a group of companions were able to found a small community there, which was to take the name Premonstratensians from the place. Following the rule of St. Augustine, they lived as canons facing the world and therefore carried out tasks "in the world", particularly in pastoral care in the countryside. Over the centuries, the largest order of canons in the Catholic Church grew out of the community of a few who aspired to live according to the ideal of the early Christian community in harmony and without possessions. The first settlement in Germany was established as early as 1122: in Cappenberg in Münsterland. A century later there were 600 Premonstratensian monasteries all over Europe, from Ireland to Hungary, from Spain to Sweden.

Arnsberg is the only city in Europe with three Premonstratensian monasteries. These three monasteries Wedinghausen (1170), Oelinghausen (1178) and Rumbeck (1190) were presented together in September 2021.