Estate De Campagne

Castle
In the Land Book of 1604, the domain De Campagne was described as a walled farmstead called Opperhof. In 1739, it was already referred to as: ‘The farmstead (now the farmhouse) named Jonkershof, the Opperhof (now the estate) called the Castle’. In 1765, the castle was sold to the Hamelinck family and was renamed ‘De Campagne’. The pond on the estate was created by them in the shape of the letter h, the initial of their family name. In January 1815, Louis Hamelinck was murdered in the castle by Hanoverian Hussars. Afterwards, the family left the estate.
The estate was sold in 1852 to the Jesuit brothers. In 1972, it became the property of the municipality of Drongen and, through the merger in 1977, of the city of Ghent. The garden was opened to the public and the castle was designated as a cultural center. On June 9, 1981, the City of Ghent, under the then Alderman of Education Piet Van Eeckhout, decided to convert the existing farmhouse with stables into an educational children's farm.
Accessible only during events.
Community Center
As a community center of the city of Ghent, this castle provides space for the associations of Ghent and Drongen to organize their activities. Regular exhibitions are held on the upper floor. The program of cultural life in Drongen can be found at: www.cultuurdrongen.be
Art Gallery
In 1973, the municipal administration of the then still independent Drongen held its first annual award for painting. This decision initiated the annual purchase by the municipality of an artwork by a distinguished Drongen artist. Even after the merger in 1977 with the city of Ghent, the city administration ensured a budget for the purchase of a visual artwork from an artist closely connected to Drongen and later to Ghent. This led to an impressive public art heritage in Drongen with works by, among others, Domien Ingels, Bernard Vandenberghe, Jean Bilquin, Paul Van Gysegem. Since 2003, the De Campagne estate has housed this art collection. Some works are displayed in other public places. The Art Gallery is opened to the public during major events at De Campagne. It can be visited by individuals or groups upon simple request. Associations or companies organizing an activity in De Campagne can combine this with a visit to the Art Gallery.

Pasar Drongen