Kasteel Ten Bieze

Kasteel Ten Bieze is a baroque-and-rococo castle estate in Beerlegem, a village that forms part of the municipality of Zwalm in East Flanders, Belgium. The house is set within a landscaped park and woodland stretching to roughly 60 hectares, following the valley of the Munkbosbeek stream. It ranks among the grandest country residences of the Zwalmstreek region, pairing an aristocratic building with a garden layout shaped over more than a century of redesigns.

How far back does the history of this estate go?

The site predates the current building by several centuries. It was once the seat of the local lordship (heerlijkheid) of Beerlegem, whose origins trace back to the 11th or 12th century. This lordship formed part of the larger Land van Rode, itself a subdivision of the Land van Aalst. The earliest written record of a lord of Beerlegem dates to 1196, placing the estate among the older feudal centers documented in this part of Flanders.

Which noble families owned the castle over the centuries?

Ownership of the estate passed through a long line of noble houses: Beerlegem, Grimbergen, Maldegem, Massemen, Leeuwergem, Van der Gracht, and de Croÿ. From 1553 the property belonged to the Rodoan family, and in 1680 it was acquired by the Rodriguez d'Evora y Vega family, who held the title of barons of Rode. This succession of owners mirrors the broader pattern of inheritance and sale common among Belgian landed nobility, in which a castle served both as a family residence and as a marker of social standing.

What does the current building look like, and where does its present form come from?

The building visitors and passers-by see today dates from around 1730 and was erected in the Munkbosbeek valley on the same ground as an earlier, medieval castle belonging to the lords of Beerlegem. Its appearance was later altered substantially: between 1872 and 1876, architect O. Geerling reworked the façade in a neoclassical style, aligning it with the architectural taste of the period. As a result, the present-day Kasteel Ten Bieze combines an 18th-century core with a 19th-century neoclassical exterior.

What is notable about the surrounding park?

The park is as much a defining feature of the estate as the castle itself. The partially enclosed grounds include moats, ponds, and fountains, and their current layout dates from a redesign carried out between 1814 and 1830. It was during this period that the park took on its landscape-garden character, reflecting the romantic garden aesthetic fashionable in the early 19th century, with informally winding paths and water features integrated into the stream valley.

Who lives at Kasteel Ten Bieze today?

The estate remains privately owned and continues to serve as a family residence — it is currently inhabited by Hubert d'Ursel de Boussies. Because of its private character, access to the interior is restricted, though the surrounding park is occasionally opened to the public during nature-themed events and guided walks organized by local heritage and conservation groups.

Frequently asked questions

Can Kasteel Ten Bieze be visited? The castle is a private residence, so the interior is not generally open to the public; the park is sometimes accessible during organized events.

Where exactly is the castle located? In Beerlegem, a sub-village of the municipality of Zwalm, in the province of East Flanders, within the valley of the Munkbosbeek stream.

How large is the estate? The park and surrounding woodland together cover approximately 60 hectares.

Is the current building the original medieval castle? No — the present structure dates from around 1730 and stands on the site of an earlier castle, having later undergone a neoclassical remodeling between 1872 and 1876.