Ravenhof Castle

Currently under renovation, Ravenhof Castle in Stabroek remains a beautiful monument. "First, there was a farm called 'Goet van Steenlant'. It was Cornelius van Tongerloo who transformed it into a castle in the mid-16th century. The estate came into the hands of Balthasar Moretus, a descendant of the Antwerp printer Jan Moretus, after several owners. It was named Moretushof, also known as Crayenhof. When Balthasar's cousin, Count Philippe de Pret, had the castle remodeled in Baroque neo-Louis XVI style, it received its current name."

Since 1912, it has been owned by Karel Moretus, the then mayor of Stabroek. "In the 1960s, it came into the hands of the Assumptionist Fathers who opened it to Catholic associations. Since 1979, it has been owned by the municipality. A thorough restoration is making the building ready as an event location. The upper floors will house socio-cultural organizations, such as the local history group. The restoration of the roof and more than 200 windows will still take several years."

Sandra