Belgium Vierselhof Castle
The origins of Vrieselhof Castle date back to around 1300 when Jan van Vriesele bought the land and gave it to his daughter as a dowry.
Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, gave permission for a late court to be established. This was a lower court where a mayor could judge local disputes.
From 1509, members of the van Halmale family owned the estate. The last descendant, Alfons-Ignace van Halmale, died childless in 1788.
During the Eighty Years' War (16th-17th century) the castle served as a refuge for the inhabitants of Oelegem on several occasions.
In 1910 Count Louis de Brouckhoven de Berkeyck became the owner of the property. He had the old castle rebuilt. But after the outbreak of the First World War, the Belgian troops had the castle burnt down for strategic reasons on 7 October 1914. Between 1917 and 1919, the present castle was rebuilt in the same style as the recently destroyed castle. In 1974, the castle and its grounds were sold to the province of Antwerp by the grandchildren of Louis de Brouckhoven de Berkeyck.
For most of the time the castle had a residential function. In the 18th and 19th centuries it had a few other functions too: in 1797 it became a temporary residence for the Augustinians of Antwerp after their monastery was closed down, and in 1818 it was rented out as a gendarmerie barracks. From 1977 to 1999, the "Provincial Textile and Costume Museum" was located in the Vrieselhof. Afterwards, the Provincial Library Centre was located here, until 2015.
Currently, the municipality of Ranst uses the castle for ceremonies.
Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, gave permission for a late court to be established. This was a lower court where a mayor could judge local disputes.
From 1509, members of the van Halmale family owned the estate. The last descendant, Alfons-Ignace van Halmale, died childless in 1788.
During the Eighty Years' War (16th-17th century) the castle served as a refuge for the inhabitants of Oelegem on several occasions.
In 1910 Count Louis de Brouckhoven de Berkeyck became the owner of the property. He had the old castle rebuilt. But after the outbreak of the First World War, the Belgian troops had the castle burnt down for strategic reasons on 7 October 1914. Between 1917 and 1919, the present castle was rebuilt in the same style as the recently destroyed castle. In 1974, the castle and its grounds were sold to the province of Antwerp by the grandchildren of Louis de Brouckhoven de Berkeyck.
For most of the time the castle had a residential function. In the 18th and 19th centuries it had a few other functions too: in 1797 it became a temporary residence for the Augustinians of Antwerp after their monastery was closed down, and in 1818 it was rented out as a gendarmerie barracks. From 1977 to 1999, the "Provincial Textile and Costume Museum" was located in the Vrieselhof. Afterwards, the Provincial Library Centre was located here, until 2015.
Currently, the municipality of Ranst uses the castle for ceremonies.
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