Kaaibeekhoeve

Surrounded farm with a central earthen courtyard, dwelling stable house to the north, later pigsty and wagon house to the east, and barn to the south, located in the well-preserved landscape by the Grote Nete in the immediate vicinity of Castle de Merode (see Westerlo, Polderstraat numbers 49-51) and accessible via an oak avenue from the Varendonksesteenweg.

"Qua(et)beke" or "Quackebeke" has historically been part of the possessions of the cathedral chapter of Utrecht and was leased together with other goods and rights in Westerlo and Herselt to the lords of Wesemael, see municipal introduction. Around 1270, the Kaaibeekhoeve and its surroundings were separated and given as a fief to Gerard van Wesemael, who would call himself Lord of Kwabeek (or Kaaibeek). Thus, for more than a hundred years, a separate lordship with its own lords emerged, whose genealogy differs from that of Westerlo. Only in 1391 were the rights of the Kaaibeekhoeve purchased by the then lord of Westerlo, Jan I van Wesemael, thus rejoining the lordship of Westerlo. In 1488, Kaaibeek came into the possession of the de Merode family, the owners to this day. In 1626, Kaaibeek became a barony. The farm was "luxuriously" rebuilt in 1686, as seen in the use of sandstone and the volume of the dwelling house. Gradually, the importance as a separate lordship faded, and the emphasis shifted to agriculture. Similarly, the title of barony disappeared during the French Revolution. source: Inventory of Immovable Heritage Flanders

Blauwkruikje