Top 6 Castles around Hulst

The town hall has been located in the Lippens castle since 1977, which was commissioned in 1879 by Mrs. Hippolyte de Kerckhove – D’Exaerde – Lippens and Messrs. August and Eugeen Lippens. Next to the main building is the former caretaker’s house, which served as a police station until 2011. The gate at the front opens onto the Lindeplaats, where a statue of Mr. August Lippens stands. Behind the castle lies the walled castle park, today the public municipal park of Moerbeke. On the lawn, you will find a statue in honor of Mrs. de Kerckhove – D’Exaerde – Lippens. Source: moerbeke.be/bestuur-en-beleid/over-moerbeke/bezienswaardigheden/familie-lippens/kasteel-lippens

Unfortunately, it's only accessible on special occasions. It's worth taking photos from the outside.

Like Refugium Ten Duinen, this was a refuge for Cistercian monks who reclaimed the area around Hulst in the late Middle Ages. It is one of the oldest buildings in Hulst and used to be part of the Baudeloo complex, which also included a large garden. Over the centuries, the building has also served as a governor's residence, hospital and boarding school. The Zeeland Music School is now located here. The building has a particularly characteristic tower: a pagadder tower. In that tower, small men sat on the lookout. They warned shipowners when their ship was approaching. The term pagadder is derived from the Spanish 'pagare' (to pay). This either has to do with the fact that the men were paid per ship they saw, or it is a reference to their small stature. If you were too small to become a soldier in the Spanish army, you became a 'pajadore' (paymaster). Incidentally, in Antwerp a small man is still called a 'nen pagadder'.

The Fort of Stabroek may have seen little action during the two world wars, but now Stafort organizes countless adventures. From paintball to disc golf, Stabroek has something for everyone.

The Van Delft family has owned various properties in the Kempenhoek in Berendrecht since at least the 17th century. It is not known whether Jan van Delft (°1592 - † 1662), son of Gerard van Delft and Madeleine Gysbrechts, bought or inherited these properties. It is certain that they came into the hands of his son Gerard van Delft, canon of Kamerijk, through inheritance. Originally, a hunting lodge was built on the country estate. The tower and the southern side wing are attributed to Jan or Gerard van Delft. On the Ferraris map (1771-1778), one volume with a square plan is indicated on the current location of the castle and the associated castle farm, against the Reigersbosdreef, behind which are two L-shaped structures interrupted by outbuildings. After Gerard's brother Jean-Baptist, councillor and extraordinary treasurer of Antwerp, inherited the domain in 1792, he had a northern wing added. Around 1824, the estate belonged to the Brussels-based baron Josephus Gaspar van Delft. In 1846, the properties were transferred to Joseph Gerard van Delft-Lunden, and in 1855 to Carolus Joseph Van Delft. Around 1934, Louis Jozef Marie van Delft had an additional volume built against the southern wing. The domain is surrounded on the side of the Reigersbosdreef by a wall covered with brick friezes and concrete coping stones, and includes a garden with a pond, with the castle wing to the west along the Reigersbosdreef, and the former horse stables to the south. To the east of the stables are a bakehouse and an aviary. The main entrance was reportedly once located on the Sint-Jan Baptiststraat, bordering the former coachman's house, and still has the metal fencing and bluestone bollards. The current entrance is located on the Reigersbosdreef, from which it is separated by bluestone posts. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Reigershof Castle, https://id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/10809

This "castle" has apparently had many names (or has been known by many names). It is established architectural heritage under the names Kasteel Reigershof and Kasteel Sterrenhof. But it was also called Hof van Delft and Hof Le Grelle. The first name refers to the family that owned it for centuries, van Delft. The second to Daniël Le Grelle, widower of Maisy van Delft, who died a year before the unveiling of the artwork 'Het DNA van de Polder' - https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/3113896 - and left behind a son. Apparently, in addition to being the custodian of heritage and the Reigersbos, he was an advocate for the preservation of the Bourla-Schouwburg and Vlaaikensgang in Antwerp, "savior" of Berendrecht, Zandvliet and Lillo Fort against port expansion, an idiosyncratic politician and reformer of the BOIC and a member of the Antwerp city council for thirty years, he was also director of the inspection company Vinçotte for a while and, together with his son, headed the committee that advises the king on the appointment of new nobility. About Le Grelle: https://www.polderke.com/graaf-daniel-le-grelle-overleden/

Built in 1907. During the First World War it held out against the Germans for 5 days, but did not play any role in the Second World War. Now you can play paintball there….

The fort was built from 1902 and completed in 1907. Together with the Fort of Sint-Katelijne-Waver, this was the first armored fort in the Antwerp fortification belt. It is the first fort on the anti-tank ditch. The fort did not play an important role during the two world wars and was demilitarized in 1947. For a more detailed description and an overview of the history of the Fort of Stabroek; https://www.fortenbanden.be/pagina/individuele-historie#fortstabroek