Top 20 Castles around Boutersem

After the castle was no longer used as a castle, the Chaplains of Labour emerged, who founded the Sint-Janscollege. But the building had other functions during the war years. During the First and Second World Wars, German and American troops occupied the domain, as evidenced by the graffiti left in the tower. In the late 1940s, the buildings were repurposed as a boarding school for war orphans, an initiative of the noble foundation ‘Aide aux Enfants de la Patrie’. And from 1957 onwards, the Chaplains of Labour established a Catholic boys' boarding school and school there. Source: https://sintjanscollegemeldert.be/over-ons/geschiedenis

Both the old and current castle of Meldert underwent major changes after devastating fires. The current castle, although dating from the mid-1840s, underwent drastic changes after a severe fire in 1877. After a fire (1568) had destroyed the donjon or medieval residential tower in the village center, the family of Montenaken, heirs of the knights of Meldert, built a square farmstead, further south and higher up, the old castle. Due to a series of inheritances, the building eventually came into the ownership of Louise van der Noot at the beginning of the 19th century. The severe fire in 1877, which originated on the second floor, caused so much damage to the roof and floors that the land registry considered the castle a ruin. Only in 1882 was it registered again as taxable and thus habitable. Heir Adrien d’Oultremont took advantage of this opportunity to redecorate the building to his taste and that of his time. The harmonious neo-Gothic manor house of Vivroux evolves into a sturdy medieval fortress… More medieval than the Middle Ages. Source and more: https://sintjanscollegemeldert.be/over-ons/geschiedenis

On school days, the castle domain of Meldert is only accessible to students and staff of the Sint-Janscollege. Outside of school hours, the private domain is accessible during the day for those who wish to walk there. And during school holidays, it is certainly worth the effort. You will find some interesting buildings and beautiful natural areas with grasslands, ponds, woods, and boardwalks here and there. And I haven't even mentioned some impressive trees and the interesting history of the garden. The castle of Meldert as it looks now was only recently restored and has been back in use by the school since the beginning of 2026. The renovation began in the summer of 2024 and aimed, among other things, to make the castle more energy-efficient and modern inside. It was built in its current form in the 19th century (based on a design by architect Auguste Vivroux) and served as a residence for Count Adrien d'Oultremont de Duras and his family. The castle, with its older core, consists of a north-south oriented, rectangular volume entirely built of Gobertange stone. There was also a castle here before. The castle of Meldert was first mentioned in written sources from 1572, and there was likely one even before that. The predecessor of the current neo-Gothic castle was demolished in 1845 on the initiative of Countess Vander Noot. The domain was purchased in 1957 by the Aalmoezeniers van de Arbeid, who established the Sint-Janscollege there. The castle, the service wing, and the garden pavilion were protected as monuments in 1993. The park area, which grew into a natural forest, was protected as a village view and partly managed as a nature reserve. During the restoration of the large front salon, the original wall decoration was found hidden behind a monumental mirror. The entire room has been restored to its original state. Photos of the interior and a report about the restored castle can be found at https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/01/05/school-opnieuw-in-kasteel-meldert-hoegaarden/ The rest of the text and information about the details of the building can be found via: Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kasteel Van Meldert, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/200190 Naturally, the municipality of Hoegaarden also pays attention to this special castle with its orangery, chapel, coach house, former stables, and 40-hectare domain. See https://www.lokaalbestuurhoegaarden.be/visit-hoegaarden/bezienswaardigheden/erfgoed/meldert/sint-janscollege-kasteel-van-meldert

After the gruesome murder of the last owner, Baroness Thérèse Ernst de Bunswyck, the municipality purchased part of the estate, including the castle, which now serves as Boutersem's town hall. Other lots went to different owners, so the heritage's unity is somewhat lost, with several buildings besides the castle itself. However, there's much more than meets the eye.

The castle's core dates back to 1718, modified several times during the 19th century, and eclectically renovated after 1922; the castle and its outbuildings are surrounded by a 16.5-hectare park, originally a high courtyard with a watermill and mill pond; a classic 18th-century valley floor site, redeveloped in an early landscape style around 1830-1835; redeveloped around 1900 in a late landscape style; municipally owned since 1980; ice and vegetable cellars, numerous old trees. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Kwabeek Castle Estate, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/41588

The core of Horst Castle probably dates back to the 13th century and is characterised by a square keep. The keep probably belonged to the oldest core that was further expanded into a fortified castle in the 15th century. During the troubles under Maximilian of Austria in 1489, the castle of Horst was taken by the people of Leuven and set on fire. According to literary sources, only the keep, part of the entrance gate and a defensive wall remained standing. The residential and east wing were renovated and expanded in the 16th century. The round tower also dates from this period. The outer wall was provided with a rectangular bay window. The castle lost its military character and became more of a pleasant residential area with a view of the moat, the ponds and the inner courtyard. Brick construction with sandstone layers characterise these buildings. In 1587, however, the castle was set on fire again during the raids of the Geuzen. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that restoration work began. It is difficult to deduce from the available sources to what extent this involved restoration or an embellishing conversion of the castle complex. Presumably nothing changed in the internal structure, but only after the structurally necessary repairs were the interiors completely refinished. Maria-Anna Van den Tympel had a new chapel built against the keep in the 17th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, the complex must have been damaged by plundering and neglect, and it is possible that it also suffered from plundering during the Brabant Revolution of 1830. Around 1850, the castle must have been habitable again, but the castle buildings only served as a farm. In the land registry, the site around the castle is called "De Notelaren Boomgaerd". Around that time, the most dilapidated part must have been demolished, namely the southern part and the superstructure of the gate. The rest of the complex was probably restored with reused demolition material and in traditional style. The castle was divided in 1880, with one part being registered as a school house. In 1897, a further division followed, with two plots being designated as houses. Several restoration campaigns followed in the 20th century. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Horst Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43619

Since December, there has been a spire on the castle again after the unstable spire was removed more than four years ago and could be viewed on a wooden platform in the pond. Now it is back. And the other works are also progressing quickly. More about the replaced spire on https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2024/12/10/torenspits-staat-weer-op-kasteel-van-horst-holsbeek/

The watermill at Arenberg Castle was probably rebuilt around 1636 on a watermill site known before 1286, which was then equipped with two waterwheels. Major repairs were carried out on the locks around 1722-23 and 1733-35, and images of the mill also indicate modifications to the mill building in the 18th century. Around 1875, the watermill underwent a facade restoration and extension according to the then prevailing views, under the direction of architect Claes. At the same time (1870-80), the mill was equipped with a new bluestone lock and two wooden waterwheels. The waterwheels were replaced by metal wheels at the end of the 19th century, and the locks were also modified in the early 20th century. In 1940, the mill was demolished and the mill was converted into a drawing room; externally the mill was preserved, as well as the lock and the two water wheels. Source and more information: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/42570