Castle ‘Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde’ at Bornem (Belgium)

Castle ‘Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde’ at Bornem (Belgium)

The history of this neogothic castle goes back to the 9th century when there was a medieval stronghold on this spot.
The castle is situated at the ‘Old Scheldt’, an old cut-off meander of the river Scheldt. At the end of the 19th. century, it was given its present outlook during restoration works.

Phillips de Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde was a 16th. century prominent Flemish statesman who owned several castles in Flanders and the Netherlands.
He was also a writer and probably the author of the text of the Dutch national anthem, the Wilhelmus. In 1583 he became the Lord Major of Antwerp and the owner of the castle.
Currently, the castle is inhabited by John de Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde, the 14th count of this historical family.

A big thanks to ? for the kindly nomination of this picture for the Italian gallery.