Once, this quiet farm was the site of religious upheaval. Welcome to the Hof te Bever. This 18th-century farm in Bever has a rich history. The Hof te Bever dates back to the early 1700s. Specifically, between 1702 and 1735, it took shape.
Let’s step back in time. The Hof te Bever was once a farm dependent on the Groot-Bijgaarden Abbey. In 1133, the Duke of Brabant gifted his land in Bever to the monastery. They then established a farm here. During the religious conflicts of the late 16th century, the farm suffered destruction. It was rebuilt for the first time after that destruction.
Between 1702 and 1773, the buildings underwent complete renovation. The large gate was adorned with the coat of arms. This honored the then-abbess of Groot-Bijgaarden. The French Revolution brought upheaval. In 1799, the farm was unjustly seized. It was then sold publicly.
Fast forward to 1928. Count de Villegas de Clercamp, the owner, rebuilt the farm. He chose a neo-traditional style. The years 1734 and 1928 are marked above the gate. They refer to the farm’s construction history. The de Villegas de Clercamp family’s coat of arms replaced the abbess’s.
Look closely at the buildings. The Hof te Bever presents as a closed complex today. It is made of brick buildings around a courtyard. These buildings date to 1928. The buildings feature red tile gable roofs. The farmhouse stands to the north. To the south, a long barn stretches. Stables are on the east side. Recent horse boxes stand to the west. Red and white paint highlights the woodwork.
Notice the main house. It has a double-house design under a gable roof. The west bay features a basket-arched gate. Stone posts mark its entrance. On the courtyard side, barred windows vary in width. They rest on stone sills. A recessed round-arched door leads to a loading hatch above. Metal glazing divides the wooden frames.
On the field side, the gate is framed in stone. It’s crowned by a stepped dormer. The dormer displays the years “1734” and “1928”. It also shows the de Villegas de Clercamp family crest. The east bay has a wide basket-arched gate too.
Consider the long barn. It has a gable roof. A partial basement creates a level difference. This sets the courtyard apart from the barn floor. Arched openings face the courtyard. A partly closed basket-arched gate gives access to the vaulted cellar. A wooden frame supports concrete beams.
The stables connect to the barn. A low gate links them. Small rectangular windows sit under I-beams. Two loading hatches rise on the field side. The courtyard facade has three doors. Recovered stone frames surround them. Flat brick arches sit above. Metal frames hold the windows. Inside, brick groined vaults run lengthwise. A metal beam supports them on iron columns.
Today, the Hof te Bever operates as a stud farm since 1996. It is also a pony club. Chantal Rega is a graduate instructor here. The Pony-club Hof te Bever asbl is affiliated with equestrian leagues.
From religious roots to a modern equestrian center, the Hof te Bever has transformed. Its stones whisper tales of faith, revolution, and rebirth.