How about stepping back in time to explore Kasteel Rattendaal? It stands near Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. This castle has a story that twists through centuries.
In the 12th or 13th century, the Hof te Zellik stood here. This was a square farm with a country house. The name Rattendaal came into use in the 19th century. It took its name from the hamlet where the castle is located.
In 1836, Count Antoine van der Dilft ordered the demolition of the country house. A neoclassical building replaced it. Baron Albert de T’Serclaes purchased the domain in 1894. He had it rebuilt in eclectic style. The service buildings were also adapted.
During the interwar period, wine merchant Jules Wodon owned it. He could not maintain the domain. It fell into disrepair. The castle was demolished in the early 1950s. Only the ground floor remained. Part of the domain was parceled out starting in 1960.
A Protestant theological college purchased what was left in 1977. It became known as Continental Theological Seminary. They renovated part of the buildings. They established a library there.
Kasteel Rattendaal and Hof te Zellik merged in 1647. The buildings adapted to new needs over time. Today, a small part of the former park remains. A fragment of the 19th-century late classicist castle survives. It is now part of a new villa.
The former horse stables and coach house date back to 1896. They are east of the castle. They house the Continental Theological Seminary. West of the stables is the former farm house. Southeast lies a partly dilapidated 18th-century barn. There are also remains of stables. Fragmentary traces of the 19th-century orangery exist. The former walled kitchen garden is in the southeast corner. A “remise” added around 1868 now serves as an office.
The first mention of Rattendaal dates to 1290. Mathilde van Rattendaele donated her house to the Armentafel. It went to the beguinage Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Wijngaard in Brussels. In 1569, Rattendaal was described as a “house of pleasure with canals around it”. Around 1600, Thierry Vanderbeken owned it. He was the general treasurer of the States of Brabant. In 1621, his son Jan Karel Triest inherited it. He also acquired the neighboring Hof te Zellick.
The oldest mention of the “Hof te Zellick” dates from 1174. Yvan van Sellecke and his wife Mabelie lived there. Laurentius van Hovines purchased it in 1658. It included Rattendaal and the Hof van Zellick.
Around 1785, the van der Dilft family acquired the estate. Antoine van der Dilft rebuilt the castle around 1836. It became a late classicist country house. The farm was also thoroughly adapted. Around 1840, the park was redesigned. Henri Van Assche designed it.
In 1844, Count de Villers took over the estate. In 1894, Baron Albert T’Serclaes became the owner. He wanted to give the whole place a grand appearance. The castle got a monumental portico. The rat motif appeared frequently. The name Château de Rattendael and the year 1896 were added to the gate. Today, only the stone gate pillars remain.
In the 20th century, the ensemble had different owners. The buildings suffered during both World Wars. In the 1950s, the upper floor was demolished. The material helped build a parish hall and school. Large parts of the domain were parceled out from the 1960s. In 1977, the Continental Bible College purchased the outbuildings. It was renovated as a training center.
Today, Kasteel Rattendaal stands as a testament to changing times. It reflects different architectural styles. It is a place of historical significance.