Westmalle Castle

Westmalle Castle is a fortified residence with white stone walls and four round towers at each corner, standing in green countryside north of Westmalle village. The structure appears as a classic noble seat with its evenly arranged towers and bright walls that stand out from the surrounding landscape.

The site began around 1100 as a fortified farmstead and was rebuilt as a castle in 1561 under Evrard de Cottereau. Over the centuries the building passed through different noble families before eventually being taken over by a conservation foundation.

The castle shows how noble families settled in the Flemish countryside and displayed their power through grand architecture. The white walls and towers continue to shape the landscape today and reflect an era when fortified estates ruled the surrounding lands.

The private building remains closed to visitors, but the white walls and four towers are clearly visible from the public roads that surround it. The best views come from walking the country lanes around the property and observing the structure from different angles.

The castle changed hands between merchants, barons and noble families before a landscape foundation took it over. This varied ownership history shows that such estates were not simply power seats but also circulated as economic assets among different social groups.