Check out the associated route
Charles van Caloen was once the owner of the Castle of Loppem. He studied to become a priest in Maredsous, now famous for its beer and cheese. He stopped his study because of a disease making him blind. He continued to study in England, where he learned about soccer. As gratitude to Maredsous, he offered a leather ball to the students. This story states that the first time there was a Belgian football-game, it was held in Maredsous.
It was also in this Castle that the Belgian Royals stayed after WWI (from October 24 - November 21). It was here that the new architecture of the Belgian political state was drawn. Distinguished guests such as the French president Raymond Poincare, King George of Engeland, Edward Anseele and Paul Janson came here to visit King Albert I.
In this castle, you can also see a stuffed grizzly who once lived inthe Antwerp zoo.
Véronique van Caloen, Johan Braet, Jean Van Cleven et al. Het Kasteel van Loppem
What is the link between
Soccer in Belgium, Loppem, Maredous, grizzly-bear and the royals?
Charles van Caloen was once the owner of the Castle of Loppem. He studied to become a priest in Maredsous, now famous for its beer and cheese. He stopped his study because of a disease making him blind. He continued to study in England, where he learned about soccer. As gratitude to Maredsous, he offered a leather ball to the students. This story states that the first time there was a Belgian football-game, it was held in Maredsous.
It was also in this Castle that the Belgian Royals stayed after WWI (from October 24 - November 21). It was here that the new architecture of the Belgian political state was drawn. Distinguished guests such as the French president Raymond Poincare, King George of Engeland, Edward Anseele and Paul Janson came here to visit King Albert I.
In this castle, you can also see a stuffed grizzly who once lived inthe Antwerp zoo.
Sources
www.zedelgem.beVéronique van Caloen, Johan Braet, Jean Van Cleven et al. Het Kasteel van Loppem