Castle of Grobbendonk

Former front building of the castle of Grobbendonk, now called "Neerhof", located on a somewhat elevated headland between the Nete and the Aa, accessible from the street via a linden drive with fairly recent chapel at the beginning. The oldest mention of the castle dates back to the 12th-13th centuries as the property of the then lords of Grobbendonk. In 1545, according to E. Goetschalckx in 1550, Gaspar Schetz became the owner; After the castle was burned down and looted in 1579, the moated castle was rebuilt circa 1586-1587; except for the front building, completely destroyed again during the French Revolution.

Since 1617, the complex has been owned by the d'Ursel family, who leased the remaining building stock as a farm. U-shaped complex in traditional baking and sandstone style with single-storey wings under contiguous, slate gable roofs, which originally enclosed the forecourt, see image in Le Roy (1696). The various construction seams and modified, usually reduced or closed wall openings refer to numerous modifications over the centuries. The central gate wing is flanked by low, round corner towers with sandstone scaffolding holes under polygonal, slate spire; eccentric, square gatehouse of two storeys between side stepped gables (8 steps + top); stepped gables repeated in the longitudinal sides; basket arch gate in sandstone frame under water frame and weathered hard stone coat of arms of the d'Ursel or Schetz family; passage with plastered, pressed barrel vault; typical use of sandstone for traditional elements such as wall bands, corner blocks, scaffolding holes, cross and cloister frames.

Despite the modified wall openings, the connecting wings retained their original traditional character thanks to the typical round and basket arch doors in sandstone frame with keystone and imposts, stepped roof windows, scaffolding holes, long wall anchors and preserved sandstone frames. In the north wing, a wooden cross frame was preserved in the second bay on the yard side. Interior with nut beams on slippers.

Eddy&Rita