Kasteel De Schrieken

Kasteel De Schrieken is a Neo-Flemish Renaissance manor house set within a large forested and heathland estate west of the village of Poppel, part of the municipality of Ravels in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The building sits at the heart of a former hunting estate whose origins go back to the second half of the 19th century, and remarkably, the property has remained in the hands of a single family ever since it took its current shape — a rare case of continuous ownership among Belgian country estates.

How did the estate begin?

The land where the castle now stands was originally open heathland. In 1861 it was purchased by P.F.J. Lahure, a Brussels lieutenant colonel and keen hunter, who acquired roughly 45 hectares, later expanded to 50. Between 1863 and 1865 a stone hunting lodge was built on the site, the first permanent structure in the area. Over the following decades the estate changed hands several times as different owners took an interest in the land.

Who actually built the castle?

In 1877 the property passed to Ulysse Burnenville of Huy, and in 1888 it was sold again, this time to Aimé Misonne, president of the court in Turnhout and originally from Charleroi. It was Misonne who expanded the grounds, laid out the surrounding park, and commissioned the construction of the present-day castle. Building work was completed in 1901, and the house was further enlarged in 1910 with additional wings and architectural features.

What style was the castle designed in?

The design is the work of architect Pieter Jozef Taeymans, who chose a Neo-Flemish Renaissance style for the building. Typical of this approach are steep roofs, corner turrets, and decorative stepped gables that echo Flemish residential architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries. The facades were built in brick, banded with courses of natural stone, giving the building its distinctive two-tone appearance. This combination of brick and stone banding was a popular choice in Belgian country-house architecture at the turn of the 20th century, pairing the solidity of brick with the decorative appeal of pale stone trim.

How large is the estate today?

The De Schrieken estate today covers approximately 120 hectares, encompassing not only the castle itself but also a number of outbuildings and farm structures scattered across the grounds of the former hunting property. Much of the land has retained its wooded, heathland character, a reminder of its original purpose as a hunting ground. The estate is also home to a notably old and large tree, recognised as one of the monumental trees of the Antwerp region.

Who owns the castle now?

Since Aimé Misonne acquired the estate in the late 19th century, the property has remained in the ownership of the Misonne family. This continuity, now spanning well over a century, is unusual in the region — most comparable estates have changed hands or passed into the care of public institutions or foundations over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kasteel De Schrieken located? The castle lies west of the village of Poppel, in the municipality of Ravels, Antwerp province, close to the border with the Netherlands.

Can the castle be visited? The estate is privately owned by the Misonne family, and most of the grounds function as a closed, working forest and farmland area rather than a regular tourist attraction with public visiting hours.

Who designed the building? The castle was designed by architect Pieter Jozef Taeymans in the Neo-Flemish Renaissance style.

How large is the surrounding estate? The property today spans roughly 120 hectares of woodland, heath, and farm buildings.