The Court of Bruges

The castle Hof ter Brugge is located on the border of the parishes of Erps and Kwerps. It belongs to the parish of Erps. It bears the address Oude Baan no. 43 and is located opposite the football field of Erps-Kwerps. This castle was erected at a strategic location at the crossing of the Oude Baan, a Roman road over the Wiesbeek. The name ter Brugge refers to the bridge, which served as a crossing. Several families succeeded each other in this estate in the Middle Ages: van Erps and van der Nath in the 12th century, van der Brugge or de Ponte in the 13th century, Godevaerts and van Grave in the 14th century, de Jauche and Hinckaerts in the 15th century. From 1505 to 1842, the castle was the property of the noble family de Plaines, linked to Mechelen and Enghien.From 1517 to 1694 they held the title of lord of Quarebbe. The current castle dates back to the 17th century. Joanna de Plaines lived in the Hof ter Brugge at the time. The coats of arms de Plaines and Rombouts were placed above the entrance gate of Ter Brugge. The de Plaines family belonged to the untitled nobility. The last descendant, Rutger-Théodore de Plaines, was given the title of Viscount by King William I. He left his inheritance to distant cousins, the Barons Snoy. Baron Philippe Snoy was mayor of Erps-Kwerps from 1845 to 1854 and his brother Baron Emile Snoy was mayor from 1854 to 1867. The castle is U-shaped and was originally surrounded by a moat. It was written in the 19th century. The brick gate tower has a dovecote. On the arch of the gatehouse on the inside we find the year 1643 and the text 'Château de Ter Brugge'. The left wing next to the entrance gate has the anchors 1670 along the water side. That was the former conciergerie or the 'domus minor'. The castle itself is a 17th century building with modifications from the 18th century. Opposite the castle proper, there are the depots and the carriage houses with their striking arcades. In the park we find some beautiful tulip trees and a curious beech.
Bibliography

A. WAUTERS. Histoire des environs de Bruxelles, 8B, p. 373-375.

F. MAES. Old houses under Erps-Kwerps - Eigen Schoon en De Brabander, 1956, p. 219-223.

F. MAES. Fiefs under Erps - Eigen Schoon and De Brabander, 1950, p. 264-269.

H. VANNOPPEN. One hundred buildings in Kortenberg.
On a journey through ten centuries of the past. Book and Form Winksele, 1991, p. 58-59.

H. VANNOPPEN. The history of the village centre of Erps, a pearl of Central Brabant, p. 242-273.

H. VANNOPPEN. The castle village of Erps-Kwerps – Eigen Schoon and De Brabander, 1990, p. 363-367.

Gemeente Kortenberg