Castle of Wielsbeke

Hernieuwenburg Castle is a historic residence in Wielsbeke, a small municipality in the West Flanders province of Belgium, which has served as the town hall since the 19th century. Standing along the main through-road of the municipality (Rijksweg), it is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the area.

Where does the name come from and what is the history of the site?

The estate, formerly known as Ter Broucke, was the administrative seat of a feudal domain of the same name. The earliest documented mentions of its owners date back to the mid-14th century — in 1359 a certain Wouter van Harelbeke was named lord of the domain. In the early 15th century the estate passed to the Uuten Zwane family, and in 1485 it was purchased by Joris van Crombrugghe. The Crombrugghe family managed the property for nearly two and a half centuries, until 1720, when it passed to the van der Bruggen family through marriage.

The oldest known depiction of the building appears in Antonius Sanderus's work "Flandria Illustrata," produced between 1641 and 1644. It shows a modest, fortified castle surrounded by a square moat — a typical example of a small lowland Flemish noble residence of that period. The present appearance of the building is the result of a thorough 19th-century rebuilding, which gave it a more representative, palatial character.

What is there to see inside and outside?

The castle's façade is richly decorated with garlands and other ornamental motifs typical of late 19th-century style. Inside, a salon in neo-Louis XIV style has been preserved, its windows overlooking the adjoining garden. The building also features grand halls and finely finished staircases. Part of the cellars, according to historical descriptions, date back to the older, original fortified structure — making them the most authentic physical trace of the earlier Ter Broucke that predates the 19th-century transformation.

The surrounding grounds form a park which, together with the residence itself, today make up a central feature of the landscape of the Wielsbeke municipality.

What function does the castle serve today?

Following its 19th-century restoration, the building ceased to serve as a private noble residence and was converted into the seat of local government. Today it houses the town hall of Wielsbeke, open to residents and visitors on working days, typically during morning and afternoon hours. Thanks to this function, the castle remains a living, actively used building rather than a purely museum piece — visitors can view it from the outside while walking through the surrounding grounds, while the interiors are primarily accessible in connection with official municipal business.

Frequently asked questions

Can Hernieuwenburg Castle be visited? As an active town hall, the building is accessible during office hours; touring the interiors purely as a tourist is limited, but the façade and surrounding park can be viewed freely.

How old is the building? The history of the estate goes back to at least the mid-14th century, though the castle owes its current palatial appearance to a 19th-century rebuilding.

Where exactly is the castle located? Along the main through-road (Rijksweg) in the centre of the Wielsbeke municipality, in the West Flanders province.

Have any elements of the original building survived? Yes — according to historical descriptions, part of the cellars date back to the older, fortified castle surrounded by a moat, known from 17th-century engravings.