Ter Meeren Castle

Ter Meeren Castle stands southwest of the center of Sterrebeek, a former municipality that has been part of Zaventem, in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, since 1977. Set within its own park grounds, the castle is one of the region's notable pieces of defensive architecture, even though it now serves a purely residential purpose rather than a military one.

Where does the name come from and who built it?

The name "Ter Meeren" derives from the van der Mere family, an influential line of ducal officials recorded as far back as the 12th century. The castle is first mentioned in written sources in 1381, when it served as the seat of the lordships of Zaventem and Sterrebeek. That same year, both lordships were purchased by Hendrik van der Mere, a date closely linked to the construction of the still-standing main tower, or donjon.

What does the castle's architecture look like?

At its core stands a square donjon measuring 8.5 by 8.5 meters, built entirely from brick and natural stone in the 14th century. In the 16th or early 17th century, the structure was expanded with a spiral staircase tower and an L-shaped residential wing that included a private chapel. This combination of a medieval defensive tower joined to a later, more representative wing is typical of noble residences in this part of Brabant.

Who owned the castle afterward?

In 1605, the estate was purchased by Ferdinand van Boisschot, who served as chancellor of the Duchy of Brabant from 1626 to 1650 and was knighted in 1621. The castle then passed through the hands of successive owners, its appearance evolving over the centuries alongside shifting architectural tastes.

What role did the 19th-century restoration play?

In 1865, the Antwerp architect and archaeologist Joseph Schadde carried out a substantial restoration and expansion of the castle in the neo-Flemish Renaissance style. It was this intervention that gave the building much of its present, picturesque appearance, blending the medieval core with a 19th-century aesthetic that drew on Flemish Renaissance tradition.

What happened at the castle in the 21st century?

In the early 2000s, the castle came into the possession of Russian businessman Vladimir Scherbakov and his wife Elena. Between 2010 and 2015, they carried out a partial restoration of the property, with a budget of 19.5 million euros. On June 10, 2017, Scherbakov was found hanged on the castle grounds; a police investigation ruled the death a suicide. The event drew wide attention in Belgian media and refocused public interest on this historic estate.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the castle located? In Sterrebeek, a district of the municipality of Zaventem, southwest of its center, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium.

How old is the castle? Its oldest part, the square donjon, dates from the 14th century, while the earliest written mention of the estate goes back to 1381.

Can the castle be visited? The property remains privately owned, and public access can be limited — it's worth checking its current status locally before planning a visit.

What gave the castle its current appearance? Mainly the 1865 restoration and expansion carried out by architect Joseph Schadde in the neo-Flemish Renaissance style, along with the 2010–2015 renovation.