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TER SAKSEN
 Beside Cortewalle you will also find Castle “Ter Saksen” in Beveren. The history of this domain starts in the Middle Ages when there was a farm and an inn. Back then it was called “het Schaek” which would evolve into “Goed Schaekx” to “Saecks” and finally “Ter Saksen. The inn was there because close by is the main road from Antwerp to Gent, and also in the Middle Ages this meant that there were always a lot of travelers who got thirsty and hungry and stopped at the inn to lavish there needs. The oldest known owner of the place is Madame “Margareta Noethaeckx.” After that it came into the hands of the well known family “Vijdt” and it became property of “Gillis van Wolfswinkel” around 1590. When the army of “Alexander Farnese” arrived (1585) with the conquest of Antwerp there were a lot of Spanish and Italians, who came with that army. Some of them stayed in these regions, married Flemish girls and bought some property to start a new life and family. One of them was “Gregorie del Piano”. He married “Elizabeth Menschier”. “Ter Saksen” would stay in their family for the next four generations. One of the “del Piano” decents sold the castle to “Pieter-Francis Piers” who sold it thirty years later to “Mattias van der Burcht”. At the end of the 18th century the place became property of the family “Versinessen". They gave the domain pretty much the look it has now. Around 1920 the industrial “Edmond Meert” became the last owner of the castle. He used the castle for only a short period. He rebuilt the farm into a luxurious mansion and lived in there. After a lot of difficult negotiations the city of Beveren became owners of the domain in 1982. As you can see on the pictures the castle itself is at the moment in an awful condition. Lets hope that Beveren will restore the building soon like they have done with castle "Cortewalle". You can walk freely around the park which is in its own turn also an amazing place with a collection of about 6200 different plants from all over the world. You can walk in the park from April 1st until October 31st from 10am to 6pm. The tavern is open during the summer on Sunday from 2pm to 8pm. It is also possible to get a guided tour of the park. |
SORGHVLIEDT
 The history of “Sorghvliedt” goes back to the 16th century when there was a farm, which was called “Wickeleynde”. Several other buildings flanked the farm. “Arnold du Bois” inherit the domain in the beginning of the 18 century and he decides to rebuild the place in rococo style. He hired the famous architect “Jan Pieter van Baurscheit de Jonge” who also built the Royal Palace on the Meir in Antwerp, the city hall of Lier, castle ‘S Gravenwezel and the Osterrieth house. Between 1745 and 1750 the current castle and its park became reality. The city of Hoboken buys the castle and park in 1937 and makes it the city hall in 1940. After the Antwerp fusion of 1983 the castle gets a new destination and becomes district house. The outside of the castle was restored not so long ago. You can walk freely in the park. |
STERCKSHOF
The history of this castle goes way back before the 13th century when there was a reinforced moated farm (named “Hoofdvunder”) on the location of the current castle. It was probably there to defend a wooden bridge over the river “Grote Shijn”. The farm grew into a fortress that was bought by “Gerard Sterck” in 1524. The merchant, banker and counselor of Emperor Charles V rebuilds “Hoofdvunter”, which was later named “Sterckshof, into an opulent castle. The castle was damaged during the religious wars but was not completely destroyed like so many other castles in the vicinity. “Jacob Edelheer” one of the later owners of the castle decked the castle with art collections and scientific collections. On his death the castle became property of his nephew “Jacob van Lemens”. Jacob dies childless in 1664, and this sets in an era of major squabbles between all the heirs, which resulted in the castle becoming dilapidated. In 1693 the castle becomes property of the “Order Jesuits”. The Austrian war of succession (1740-1748) was also a reason in the further decline of the castle until hardly anything was left of it. The Jesuit order disbanded and the domain was publicly auctioned off to “Jan Baptist Cogels” who joined it with the "Rivieren Hof Park”. The Province of Antwerp bought the park together with the castle in 1921. The only thing left standing of the castle was the front extension of one floor, the entry gate and some parts of buildings in the back. Architect “J.A. Van der Gucht” started to work on the reconstruction in 1922 using some iconography material and foundations that had been dug out. The castle is run by the Province of Antwerp since 1953, first under the name “Provincial Museum for decorative arts and crafts”, and now as “Silver Center”. You can visit the castle every day except for Mondays. 
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D'URSEL
I do not have much info about the castle itself, but I do have some historical info about the "Counts of d’Ursel". We start in 1684 when the court decides to give “Count d’Ursel”, who owns the village of Hingene where this castle is situated, the title of “Lord of Hingene”. We can say that “Coenraad Schetz”” is the forefather of the Counts & Duke’s of d’Ursel. He inherit everything from his nephew “Melchior Schertz” who bought Hingene from “Willem van Nassau”. “Coenraad I” does not only inherit but he also gets in 1617 all the property that his aunt “Barbabra d’Ursel owns under the condition that he and all his offspring will carry the name "d’Ursel" and the weapon shield of the family. “Coenraad I” agrees and becomes owner of everything. “Karel IV” gives in 1716 the title of Duke to “Coenraad III d’Ursel”. He is the first Duke in a long row. The third Duke “Wolfgang d’Ursel” becomes a hero when he chooses the side of his people in the Austrian war. There was a Duke of d’Ursel mayor from Hingene from 1804 to 1920. So this family lived in this castle for a long time. As you can see from the picture, they are restoring the castle at the moment. The castle is no longer property of the family they sold it in 1973 to the village of Hingene. It is currently property of the Province who is restoring the castle. You can freely walk in the park around the castle. I am not sure what they will do with the castle once it is restored |
NIELERBROEK
 The Lord of Niel “Jan Baptist De Tassis” buys the ruins of a Middle Age water castle in 1534. On those remains he builds a castle in U form in the Italian renaissance style. The next owner “Martinus de Homes” renovates the castle and adds some baroque elements to the facade in 1654. Baron “De Roye de Wichen” adds his family shield in the 19th century. This castle was a hospital in the sixties and this is the place where I was born together with lots of other people who were born in this area in the sixties. The place was completely restored in 1996 and is now part of a home for the elderly. You can find the castle in Niel |
DEN BRANDT
 The first time the name Den Brandt shows up in the chronicles is around 1396. There is some mention that there was a farm on the location of this castle in 1558. In 1772 the farm is rebuilt and starts to look more as the current castle. “Charles-Antoine della Faille de Waerloos” and his wife “Isabella Bosschaert” buy the property in 1804. The castle gets rebuilt in 1865. “della Failles” sells the castle in 1910 to the German banker “Kreklinger”. After the death of “Madame Kreklinger” the family sells the domain and the city of Antwerp buys the property in 1965. You can find the castle in the green belt of Antwerpen, near to the park of Middleheim. It is nowadays used as a center for seminars. |
SCHOONSELHOF
 From 1540 to present there have been 20 owners of this castle.. The first owner was "Jan de Bier". The Italian merchant "Gaspar Ducci" was owner of the castle from 1544 until 1573. After him came several other merchants, Spanish noblemen and military lords. The castle was even sold publicly two times. Marie Louise de Bois" remodels the castle in 1779 into how we know it now. Count "Julius Moretus della Faille" is in 1871 the last lord of the castle. The city of Antwerp purchases the castle and domain in 1911 to make a cemetery of the vast domain. The first person to be buried there was a German soldier, he finds his last resting place August 29th, 1914. The domain opens its door as a public cemetery in 1921. Wen you enter the cemetery take the first lane on your left, after a while you will see the castle. |
TERBEKEN
The first time we find traces of this castle is in the 16th century when "C. Ysebouts" buys the property. Following his death the domain goes to his son. After the demise of the family "Ysebouts" the castle goes to "Jan Gaillet". Jan has two sons, Everaert and Daniël. Both are not able to produce heirs, so the sale of the castle goes to "Jan – Baptist Fredrix". A number of other families followed and the with WWII giving it a rather dark period in time. The German’s stayed in the castle, destroying it beyond belief. The last owner of the estate was Countess "Moretus" who restored parts of the castle but had not the financial means to restore it completely. So very unromantic, the castle is now property of the city. On the right you see an old picture of the castle in better times. When you drive from Antwerp to Boom along the A12 and you might stop at the Pizza Hut for a snack. Then behind the signs of modern day Pizza Hut, walk into the forest. After a few minutes you will see the remains of days long ago, Terbeken Hof. |
SOLHOF
The first traces of this property go back until 1414. That year the castle became the property of "Nikolaes van de Wouwere". The "van de Wouwere" family kept it until 1555. At which time the property was sold it to "Karel Micault". "Karel Micault" knight and Lord of Oosterstein and Aartselaar died on May 11th, 1559. His widow "Blanca de Bordeaulx" then sold the domain to "Maarten - Antoon del Rio". "Antonio del Rio" was a Spanish merchant who was enormously rich. He also bought castle Cleydael and some other properties in the area. "Antonio" made the mistake of becoming the caretaker of the blood council of "Alva" which enclosed all goods stolen by the Spanish armies. Because of this "Antonio" fell in disgrace by the council of Brabant with resulted in a siege on castle Cleydael. All his goods were confiscated and "Antonio" left Belgium, he died in Lissabon on February 17th 1586. Castle Solhof changed after the departure of "Antonio del Rio" several times from owner. The last one was "Jean Nyssens" who sold the domain in 1983 to the city of Aartselaar. Solhof was in the 16th century an impressive water castle. The only thing that remains of that stronghold are two small towers. The current castle was built in the 18th century and remodeled in the 19th century. Finally, it was restored a few years ago. Solhof is at the moment a high class hotel. |
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