Heuvelhof

Boechout is with the "Heuvelhof" at its fourth town hall.

The current home of the town council is a relatively young castle and therefore has only a short history.

Shortly after the purchase in 1872 of several contiguous plots by François Julien Waterkeyn, manager of companies in Antwerp, the old farmhouse on the site was demolished to make way for a mansion on the Heuvelstraat.

Perhaps the residents were not satisfied since at the beginning of this century the building was already demolished and a new one was erected, called "the Hill".
Again, it was not granted a long life. At the beginning of October 1914 it was reduced to ashes by the Germans.
For eight years, it lay as a ruin as a sad symbol of four years of war.

Between 1922 and 1924 the "Heuvelhof" grew according to plans by architect J.B. Van Boechout from Lier. The new castle was built in the neo-Louis XVI style, a rectangular two-storey building set in natural stone.
Compared to the former building, the mansard roof has been modified and is somewhat equipped with "oeils-de-boeuf".
The garlands and floral decoration in the form of oval and round laurel wreaths of laurel with fruit, can be found throughout the building and are elaborated in iron, stone and wood. The longitudinal fluting in the columns and columns give it a slimmer appearance.

The name "Heuvelhof" has its origin in the street name (Heuvelstraat) on which it is located and certainly not the other way around.

Thanks in part to the use of modern materials, the fire damage of 16 January 1960, which was still considerable, was limited to the top floor.

The last owner, Joseph Waterkeyn, died at home on June 18, 1963 at the age of 98. In 1966, the castle and part of the park were sold by the heirs to the city council.

In June 1973 the building was taken into use by the administration, the solemn inauguration as town hall took place in October 1973.

Next to the castle, in the corner with the Heuvelstraat and against the Selbstraat, the coach house, horse stables, chapel, high round dovecote and picturesque arcades completed the whole. These outbuildings gave the complex a dignified and stately appearance.
Unfortunately, most of it was demolished in August 1973, with the exception of the draw.
The latter was completely renovated in 1992 and inaugurated by the municipal police on 13 March 1993.

Leo.Benneke