Fancy a journey back in time? We are standing before Hof ter Zittert. This castle in Bekkerzeel boasts a history stretching back centuries. The story of Hof ter Zittert is really fascinating.
Hof ter Zittert began as the primitive Hof van Beckerzeel. That was in the second half of the thirteenth century. Amalricus de Beckenzele is the oldest known resident. He was mentioned in 1086. This family held high status for centuries. They maintained close ties with the Dukes of Brabant.
In 1470, the old Hof ter Zittert was described in detail. It included land, woods and meadows. By 1599, the Hof ter Zittert lay in ruins. But by 1641, it was described as standing with houses, barns, and stables.
The Beydaels family owned it in the eighteenth century. Later, it passed to Wauters de Besterveld through inheritance. The current Hof ter Zittert was built in the mid-eighteenth century. It was supposedly built on the old Hof’s foundations. Restorations occurred in 1832 and 1958. These are noted on the facade. In 1832, it was adapted and raised. It gained its neoclassical appearance then.
Look at the domain surrounding Hof ter Zittert. It is accessible via an iron gate. The gate stands between brick pillars. A brick bridge crosses the moat to the Hof ter Zittert. Inside, a garden shows elements of French design.
Notice the main building. It dates to the mid-eighteenth century. It features a rectangular layout. It has white-painted brick facades. Sandstone accents the structure. The design includes slightly arched windows. Some have preserved nineteenth-century woodwork.
Also see the gatekeeper’s house and stables. They are east of the entrance. These buildings likely have eighteenth-century origins. A stone with the year 1763 is set into the wall. It came from a demolished house in Aalst. It was added during the 1958 renovations.
West of the entrance stands a stable with a bakehouse. These date to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The facades are painted red. Inside the stable, you can see a preserved drinking trough.
Eugénie Sanchez de Aguilar, wife of Théodore Wauters de Besterveld, ordered a restoration. This is documented by a stone near the front door.
Odilon van der Haegen purchased the domain in 1958. He thoroughly restored the Hof ter Zittert. However, he retained its 1832 appearance. The moat was cleaned. It lost its straight edges. The garden’s formal layout recalls the Belle Époque.
Sadly, the Brussels-Ostend highway now causes noise. Despite this, Hof ter Zittert remains a charming site near Brussels.
Hof ter Zittert stands as a testament to history. It is a blend of architectural styles. Its story echoes through the centuries. This is a place where the past and present meet.