Castle Blauwendael

Castle Blauwendael, formerly also known as Castle Blauwhof. Site formed by the castle "Blauwendael" with park protected as a village view, castle and outbuilding are protected as a monument by MB of 16.07.1987. The current castle (1889-1890) in eclectic style is located in the midst of an older estate that has belonged to the noble family de Neve de Roden since its inception. Pieter de Neve, stadholder and high bailiff of the Land of Waas, who was housed with his wife and children on Kerkstraat, had a rear mansion built with a moat on grounds extending to Gentstraat in 1607-1608. Initially called "the House in the middle of the Village," it acquired the name "'t Hof van Blauwendael" in the second half of the 17th century. Sketches of the evolved noble residence are known from 1610, 1668, and around 1700. They illustrate that the mansion had a landscaped garden, forecourt, orchard, and outbuildings. Under Baron Henri Philips de Neve, works were undertaken around 1820 to adapt the estate to the taste of the time; several structures were demolished and perhaps new ones like the orangery were erected. Knight Emile de Neve de Roden and his wife Emma de Bueren had the old Hof Blauwendael demolished and a new castle built (1889-1890) according to the design of master builder Jozef De Waele (Ghent) and carried out along with contractor Charles Mortier (Ledeberg). At the end of 1940, the estate was sold to Henri de Lovinfosse (owner of the Mantafabriek). The municipal council of Waasmunster purchased Blauwendael in 1980; in 1981 the castle park was opened to the public as a walking park. Since 1984, the castle itself has received several new purposes: the ground floor partly reserved as a reception and wedding room for the municipality and a caretaker's apartment, exhibition space on the first floor, and Waasmunster's local history museum housed on the second floor and attic.

Toerisme Waasmunster