Castle Ter Rijst

The name "Ter Rijst" of this castle indicates the presence of osier wood. Osier wood is the collective term for the stems and tops of predominantly willow wood that were originally harvested in the willows along the rivers and marshy places. Nowadays, osier wood is mainly grown and harvested on specially created plantations in less marshy areas. There, the wood is mechanically planted, harvested, bundled, and stored.

The first castle of Ter Rijst (a name that indicates the presence of osier wood) was destroyed in 1169 by order of the Count of Hainaut. It was rebuilt before 1234. The Van der Noot family held this castle for a considerable time. Wouter van der Noot, a knight and chamberlain of the Duke of Brabant, Philip the Good, acquired the domain Terrest in 1464. In 1480, a new castle with a pond was established. During the Spanish domination in the 16th century, Jaspar van der Noot served Egmont. After he was beheaded, Jaspar fled and joined William of Orange. He was the first cavalry captain (colonel of the cavalry formations) of the Geuzen. The domain later came into the hands of the Catholic family Völler. In 1868-1869, burgrave de Nieulant "dressed up" the old castle and severely mutilated the old fortification; for instance, the towers were demolished.

Dromos