Kasteel Blauw Huys

Kasteel Blauw Huys is a historic manor house in Drongen, a district of Ghent, standing at Bosstraat 85-89. Its name translates to "Blue House," and while the current building dates mainly from the early 19th century, the site's history stretches back much further.

How old is this manor?

The earliest known mention of a residence on this site goes back to 1716. The building visible today, however, is largely the result of a major reconstruction in 1807, when it was given its present Empire-style form to a design by architect Jacques-Jean Dutry. A decade later, in 1817, the manor was enlarged, expanding both its footprint and its representative character.

How did the building's shape change over time?

Further alterations came in 1874, when two side wings were added to the main structure. One of them did not survive the following century — it was demolished in 1930. The current architectural layout is therefore the outcome of successive changes carried out over more than two hundred years, making Kasteel Blauw Huys an interesting example of the gradual evolution typical of country estates in the region.

What surrounds the manor house?

The building stands at the centre of a garden laid out in the English landscape style — a free, naturalistic form of garden design that mimics natural scenery, widely popular across Europe during the 19th century. The grounds also preserve several outbuildings tied to the estate's daily life: a carriage house and an orangery, both dating from 1836. From the same year comes an ice cellar, originally used to store winter ice for cooling food and provisions throughout the rest of the year. Today the ice cellar serves an entirely different purpose — it has been converted into a shelter for bats, part of broader nature conservation efforts carried out on former estate grounds of this kind.

What role does water play on the estate?

A defining feature of the landscape is the long pond that runs through the property. It is fed by the Merebeek stream, which flows across the domain and adds a scenic, reflective quality to the grounds. Water features of this sort were a standard element of landscape gardens, meant to reinforce the impression of untouched nature and to introduce movement and light into an otherwise static park setting.

Who owned the estate?

For many years, Kasteel Blauw Huys served as a country retreat for the noble Van de Woestijne family. For Flemish aristocracy of the period, such suburban estates offered a place to escape the bustle of city life while remaining within easy reach of Ghent, an important commercial and administrative centre of the region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kasteel Blauw Huys located? The manor stands in Drongen, now part of Ghent, at Bosstraat 85-89.

When did the building acquire its current appearance? Its present form dates from the 1807 reconstruction in Empire style, designed by Jacques-Jean Dutry, followed by an 1817 enlargement.

Are there other historic structures on the grounds? Yes — the estate includes a carriage house and an orangery from 1836, plus a former ice cellar from the same year that now functions as a bat shelter.

Who lived at Kasteel Blauw Huys? The estate long belonged to the noble Van de Woestijne family, who used it as their country residence.