Blauw Kasteel

Blauw Kasteel is a historic castle estate in Scheldewindeke, a village within the municipality of Oosterzele in East Flanders, Belgium. Spanning more than 36 hectares and now home to an organic farm, the estate combines a medieval origin, a turbulent 20th-century wartime past, and a present-day agricultural role.

How old is the site?

The estate's origins probably date back to the late Middle Ages. The original residence took the form of a motte – a fortified mound surrounded by a moat – topped by a structure built of sandstone and enclosed by earthen ramparts. This early construction survived, in modified form, until 1780. Archaeological excavations carried out in 2008 uncovered the remains of the central wing of the late-medieval castle: brick post foundations, traces of a well and a gatehouse, wooden reinforcement of the moat, and small everyday objects from the 16th and 17th centuries, including a pewter spoon, jugs, and earthenware vessels. These finds confirm continuous occupation of the site across several centuries and offer a glimpse into daily life at the residence during the early modern period.

What happened at the castle in the 20th century?

The estate's more recent history is just as notable as its medieval beginnings. In 1911, the castle's owner at the time – a man named Vergauwen, who also served as mayor of Scheldewindeke – established a spring water and lemonade factory on the grounds, known as "Windeke-Bron." The factory operated continuously until 1976, functioning as a local production business for several decades.

The two world wars brought a far more serious role to the estate. During the First World War, Blauw Kasteel served as quarters for German officers and pilots stationed at the nearby Lange Munte military airfield. During the Second World War, German soldiers were again billeted at the castle – yet, according to local accounts, hidden rooms within the building were used at the same time to shelter downed British pilots, making the site witness to starkly contrasting episodes of occupation.

What is Blauw Kasteel used for today?

Since 2003, the estate has been owned by the Denoo family. Four years later, in 2007, organic cultivation began on the land that once formed the castle's farmstead – today, the fields and kitchen garden of Blauw Kasteel produce vegetables and fruit using organic farming methods. The sprawling, over-36-hectare property encompasses both cultivated fields and the parkland surrounding the former residence, creating a landscape where the castle's history and contemporary organic agriculture coexist.

Where exactly is the castle located?

Blauw Kasteel lies in Scheldewindeke, a village administratively part of the municipality of Oosterzele in the province of East Flanders, near the former Lange Munte airfield, which played a significant role in the site's First World War history.

Why is this site worth knowing about?

Blauw Kasteel brings together several historical layers rarely found in a single location: medieval foundations uncovered only through archaeological research, an early-20th-century industrial chapter as a mineral water factory, dramatic wartime episodes tied to both world wars, and a fully organic farming operation today. This combination makes it an interesting stop for anyone curious about the regional history of East Flanders as well as sustainable agriculture.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Blauw Kasteel located? In Scheldewindeke, a village belonging to the municipality of Oosterzele, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium.

How old is this estate? It probably dates back to the late Middle Ages – its original form was a motte surrounded by a moat, existing in that shape until 1780.

What role did the castle play during the world wars? During the First World War it housed German officers and pilots from the nearby Lange Munte airfield; during the Second World War, despite German soldiers being billeted there, its hidden rooms were also used to shelter British pilots.

What takes place on the estate today? Since 2007, the Denoo family has run an organic farm there, growing vegetables and fruit across more than 36 hectares of the former castle grounds.