Kasteel van Relegem, Medieval castle in Zemst, Belgium

Kasteel van Relegem is a moated castle in Zemst with three wings surrounding a central courtyard. The courtyard is accessed through an iron gate that replaced the original medieval gatehouse.

The castle originated during the Frankish period as a strategic post between Grimbergen, Mechelen, and Rumst. In the 18th century it was transformed from a fortified stronghold into an elegantly designed classical residence under Count de Baillet.

The name traces back to the van Relegem family who held the property in medieval times. Visitors can observe how the location embodies the continuity of a local noble lineage across the centuries.

The domain lies west of the Zenne and its meadows, with the Leibeek flowing along its eastern side and the Hoogstraat (Zemst-Hombeek) marking the western boundary. The moat is interrupted on the northwest, so the grounds are not fully enclosed by water. Approach on foot or by bike along the Hoogstraat.

The southwest wing features sandstone walls with pointed arch windows framed in blue limestone. These elements date from the mid-18th century and reveal the construction care typical of that era.