Kasteel van Berlare

Kasteel van Berlare is a castle in the village of Berlare, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, set within a spacious park that today serves as a public green space for walks and recreation.

How did the site's history begin?

The roots of the estate go back to the Middle Ages, when the site held a defensive motte — an artificial mound topped with a wooden structure, surrounded by a moat and split into an upper courtyard and a lower, working courtyard. The village of Berlare itself first appears in written records in 1166, under the older spelling Berelare. Over the following centuries, the village name was adopted by a local noble family, whose members included figures such as Willem, Walter and Daniël van Berlare, still remembered in local historical accounts.

Who gave the castle its baroque character?

A turning point came in the 17th century. Between 1627 and 1631, the estate was bought by Diego Sanchez de Castro, a governor acting on behalf of the Spanish crown. He commissioned a grand residence built of brick and sandstone, decorated with stuccoed ceilings and baroque fireplaces — features that gave the property a far more representative character than it had before. The Castro family's ownership was relatively short-lived: in 1688, Diego's son, Don Juan Bernard de Castro, sold the castle to Frans Aloïs vanden Meersche, a cloth manufacturer from Ghent who also served as a councillor at the Council of Flanders.

Why does the current building date largely from the 18th century?

The structure visitors see today largely dates from 1722, when the castle was rebuilt, likely on the foundations or remains of the earlier building. Somewhat later, toward the end of the 18th century, symmetrical service wings in the rococo style were added, flanking the forecourt in front of the main entrance — these wings still largely define the layout of the estate as it appears today.

How did ownership change over the following centuries?

The vanden Meersche family held the estate and the title of lords of Berlare until 1791, when it passed through marriage to the De Lichtervelde family, who lived there until 1883. The next owner was Joris Vergauwen, then mayor of Berlare, followed in 1906 by Emile Roos. The property was later inherited by the Nicod family. Finally, in 2008, the municipality of Berlare purchased the entire estate, bringing a long period of private ownership to an end.

What is happening at the castle today?

After the municipal takeover, the building underwent an extensive restoration, partly funded through regional support from Flanders, aimed at restoring its historical character while adapting the interior for new public and administrative uses. The surrounding park remains freely accessible and is a popular destination for walks among both Berlare residents and visitors to the area.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Kasteel van Berlare located? The castle stands in Berlare, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium.

Who built the castle as it looks today? The current building largely dates from a 1722 reconstruction, though its origins trace back to the residence built by Diego Sanchez de Castro between 1627 and 1631.

Can the castle be visited today? The surrounding park is open to the public and popular with walkers, while the restored building now serves public functions.

Since when has the castle belonged to the municipality? The municipality of Berlare acquired the property in 2008.