Top 13 Castles around Stekene

The "Hof van Belsele" or "Bishop's Castle" was built in the 18th century and purchased by Bishop Maximilliaan van der Noot, who had it partially rebuilt in 1754 and designated as a retirement home for priests. In 1904, it was radically altered on behalf of Bishop Antoon Stillemans, designed by Stephan Mortier. In 1906, the Sisters of the Holy Angels came to this domain to take care of elderly priests. On the domain, one finds a castle with a former coach house and gardener's house. There are also several mansions, an 18th-century garden pavilion, and a grotto with a statue of a saint from 1935. All of this is located in a moated park with a pond and monumental trees. The former coach house, a private residence since 2003, has a neo-Gothic interior. The castle has an old core, but its appearance is neo-traditionalist with stepped gables and the like. The symmetrical brick building has a built-in turret above the entrance. Here too, there is a neo-Gothic interior decoration, and there is a private chapel. The domain of the Hof van Belsele is private, but is opened to the public on certain occasions such as Open Monument Day or Park Day. Source: Wikipedia & ontdeksintniklaas.be

Both the castle and the coach house have been managed by the Centre for Youth Tourism (CJT) since 1981. Situated in a green area of 60 ha, this is an ideal place to stay for groups of young people. https://verlorenbos.be/nl/

Between 1994 and 2015, twenty-two trees were planted in the park, symbolising laureates of the cultural prize. This annual municipal prize recognises an exceptional achievement or important contribution in the socio-cultural field. To honour them all, the twenty-two names are collected on a plaque on the wall of the castle and symbolically accompanied by a tree in the park. The 2018 laureate, Ivan Du-Tré, also features on this commemorative element. He was honoured as the author of the book 'Waasmunster in the Great War', a thorough reference work with short stories about life in our municipality during WWI. Source: information board on site

In 1550, knight Willem van Waelwijck united the existing lordships of Van der Moeren and Willemaers into a fief, the "Hof van Walburg", named after his wife Walburgh. He had a new building constructed there, a typical moated castle in traditional sand and brick style. In addition to the castle, the domain consisted of an orchard, a garden with two avenues. It included an upper and lower court. For many years, the title "Lord of Walburg" was transferred by inheritance or sale. The successive owners gave the castle domain various purposes, including a brewery, a pharmacy and a residence. In 1789, the French Republic abolished the title Lord of Walburg. In 1846, the castle came into the hands of the Van Naemen family. Jozef Felix Van Naemen renovated the castle according to the then current taste and lifestyle. The domain acquired a purely residential character. The last residents were the unmarried sisters Alix, Gabriélla and Elisabeth Van Naemen. The grounds of the domain were expropriated in 1949. In the same year, the Sint-Niklaas municipal council decided to purchase the "castle with dependencies and lands". In 1950, part of the domain was lost for the construction of the Parklaan. In 1952, the castle domain, redesigned by landscape architect Braeckman, was officially opened as a city park. In 1975, the castle was protected as a monument and the surroundings as a landscape. In 1983, the city council had a restoration file drawn up for the castle. In the same year, the bandstand, which stood on the Grote Markt until 1966, was rebuilt in the vicinity of the castle. In 1987, the city park was given its current name, the "Romain De Vidtspark" named after the mayor of Sint-Niklaas who was the driving force behind the purchase of the castle. In 1994, the restored and redesigned Walburg castle was reopened to the public. The caretaker's house was protected as a monument in 1999. Source: information board on site

The Verloren Bos borders the area De Buylaers, but unlike the Buylaers this is a former drifting sand area. In 1899-1900 the Kasteel Verloren Bos was built here, and the Verloren Bos is actually the park of the castle. This park was designed in landscape style and included a number of ponds, a folly and an ice cellar.

The Castle is a villa built in 1899 by industrialist Gonzales Cock, where you can still experience some of the grandeur of the past here and there: the beautiful mosaic in the entrance hall of the castle, the wooden floor - decorated with beautiful motifs - or the authentic cellar vaults, to name just a few elements.

Located in a green oasis in the middle of the city, the 16th-century Walburg Castle beckons. It is one of the most idyllic places in the city, especially on a sunny day. Willem van Waelwijck named his manor and his moated castle after his wife, Walburgis. The castle also included a pigeon tower and a very extensive park. Over the centuries, the castle served as a herb garden, brewery and warehouse and provided housing for knights, chief aldermen and mayors. Every Tuesday evening in July and August, locals and tourists gather around Walburg Castle for the fun Walburg concerts, now officially renamed Parkies.

ideal for groups