Prinsenveld Castle

So-called "Prinsenveld". Beautiful domain with country house, farm, caretaker's shop, horse stables and greenhouses, laid out in the former Maldegemveld, on the border with Ursel and the Drongengoedbos. This vast heathland, formerly also called 's Herenveld after the owners, the lords of Maldegem until the end of the 18th century. Later after the last lord, the prince de Croy, called Prinsenveld and sold to the Pecsteen-Dhont family at the beginning of the 19th century. According to the land registry archive, in 1858 Charles Dhont, lawyer in Bruges, erected a house and country building, partly surrounded by a canal, registered on the Popp map (circa 1860) under the name "Ouden Doorn ferme". Also according to the land registry archive, in 1877-78 the house was renewed, the country building enlarged and several pavilions added. This is presumably with eclectic summer residence known by old photos. According to literature, Charles Dhont built the first Prinsenveld Castle in 1846. The current country house mentions on the façade "Prinsenveld", "1856" (incorrectly read 1846 ?), "1927", "rebuilt". This "rebuilding" (not registered on the land register) in "Flemish style" is said to have been done by Mrs. Charles Dhondt according to plans by architect Viérin van Brugge, executed by the Goetinck brothers of Bruges. Until 1944 the castle was inhabited in the summer by two sons, Charles and Edmond Dhont and then sold.

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