Kasteel van Heetvelde, Water castle in Oetingen, Belgium.
Kasteel van Heetvelde is a water castle in Gooik with a square keep of four levels and a prominent round tower on its northern side. The structure is surrounded by a moat and accessed via a brick bridge with double round arches.
The castle was built at a strategic location marking the boundaries between three medieval territories: the Duchy of Brabant, the County of Hainaut, and the County of Flanders. This position made it a key defensive point in a contested region.
The castle displays Renaissance details inside, including a fireplace decorated with coats of arms and a hearth plate from the 17th century. These elements show the taste and status of the families who made this their home.
The structure sits on private property and cannot be entered, but it can be viewed from outside. The best views are from the approach to the bridge, where the castle's architecture and moat are clearly visible.
The walls still have shooting holes from when the castle served as a fortress. These openings reveal how seriously medieval defense was taken and show the practical military design of the period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
