Castle Hoeilaart

It was market day in Hoeilaart, the neighbouring village, today. As I didn't have time to go to our own weekly market yesterday a trip to Hoeilaart was a chance to get Dutch cheese, fresh fish and fresh flowers and to have a look at the village's castle and park around it.

Belgium is really full of castles, I've counted at least 10 in the immediate neighbourhood. Most are private property, but Hoeilaart's village council services have their seat in this castle.

There used to be an older castle dating from the 15th C in this location, but that one was destroyed and this one built in 1858, a typical Romantic period building with nature-elements and the newest styles from the late 1800s, it was designed by architect Jozef Claes from Antwerp. Look at those interesting turrets ! It's been bought by the council in 1919 and has been in use for public services since then.