Top 20 Castles around Haaltert

The eye-catcher of the Grote Markt is undoubtedly the belfry, which includes the old town hall and the district house. Together, they form a unique historical ensemble. The old town hall, dating from 1225, is the oldest preserved town hall in the Netherlands, recognizable by its high gable roof and round corner towers. The belfry was added in 1407 and is notable for its elegant octagonal tower with an open gallery. Inside, one of the oldest working carillons in the Netherlands hangs, which still resounds through the city every fifteen minutes. The tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. On the facade, you can see the motto "Nec spe nec metu" ("without hope, nor fear"), and the statues of the Counts of Flanders and Aalst. The clock face, dating from 1964, earned the tower the nickname "den Tettentoeren" (the Tette Towers) because of its striking shape. The district house, a late Gothic extension, was for centuries the place where the bailiff promulgated laws to the people. Five statues adorn the facade, including Justitia, Emperor Charles V, and Pieter Coecke, court painter and Aalst resident. Today, the city council still meets there monthly.

Overhamme Castle, located in Aalst, has a rich history and interesting architecture. The castle was first mentioned in the 15th century as a possession of the de Bosch family. In the 16th century, the castle was destroyed and then restored. In 1663, the castle was issued as a fief. The castle was depicted in an engraving by Antonius Sanderus in 1644. This engraving shows that the castle had a U-shaped configuration with wings around the forecourt. During the second half of the 18th century, the castle was expanded and the service buildings were given their current shape. In 1796, the castle was used as a hiding place for the monks of the Abbey of Affligem. In 1946, the castle was demolished, but some service buildings from the 18th century were preserved. These buildings have now been converted into homes and a garage. The castle domain also includes a park with a pond and an ice cellar. It is an important heritage in East Flanders and is considered established architectural heritage.

The castle of Leeuwergem from 1762 is one of the most beautiful baroque castles in Belgium. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful garden with ponds. On the avenues around the actual castle domain you can walk freely to admire the baroque building from a distance.

History: Kruikenburg used to be a manor and later a county in Brabant. The manor consisted of the current municipality of Ternat together with the sub-municipalities of Wambeek and Lombeek. At the beginning of the 12th century, the lords of Wezemaal, whether or not on behalf of the duke in Leuven, tried to seize the forests and lands of Wambeek. Architecture: Kruikenburg is an imposing classicist castle that originally dates from the 12th century. The castle, like many other medieval defensive castles, has a U-shape. This U is formed by three wings surrounding a courtyard. There are round towers on the corners. Only the entrance tower is square. Name: The peculiar name 'Kruikenburg' is because there used to be a rough stone-cut jar with a weather bar on the top of the square entrance tower and the three round towers.

Herzele Castle is a ruin of a moated castle, built in the course of the 11th century. It was the residence of the lords of Herzele and has been a protected monument since 1957. The castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1579, after destruction by the Spaniards, it was not rebuilt due to a lack of funds of the then residents, Prince Willem d'Espinoy and Ernestine van Arenberg. The ruin was sold, one tower was retained to assert the right of privilege. Restoration in 1972.

The castle has, among other things, a B&B. The castle is also a special location for events (company and wedding parties, receptions, ... Visits to the castle and park (for groups of at least 15 people) are possible by appointment. Entrance fees: Castle: €180/group + €50 for guide Park (15/5-15/10): €4.5/person Possibility to combine the visit with lunch or dinner. More information: https://leeuwergem.be/nl/index.php

The history of this courtyard goes back further than that of the castle that belongs to it. The "Neerhof van Elene", a fairly large moated castle with a drawbridge, already existed here in the 11th century. In the 11th or 12th century, the farm fell into the hands of the lords of Zottegem, who also owned the manor of Leeuwergem. Since then, the Neerhof, which served as the seat of the domanial and seigneurial rights over Elene and Leeuwergem, was called the 'court of Leeuwergem'. When a castle was first built near this Neerhof in 1425, it was given the name 'Leeuwergem Castle', a name that has been retained to this day. Interesting video simulating what the courtyard must have looked like around 1420: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lscZhifrGA&ab_channel=VisualDimensionbvba Sources: https://historical landscape.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/het-kasteel-van-leeuwergem-rond-1420/

Beautiful castle and surroundings that are currently used for private events.