Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Castle – Bornem Castle

A forgotten bend of the Scheldt winds quietly through the village of Bornem, between Antwerp and Ghent. This old side arm was cut off from the main river in the 13th century, yet remains a picturesque spot. On its banks, rises Bornem Castle. The story of this neo-Gothic gem stretches back a thousand years. It began when Burgrave Lambrecht I of Ghent used the site as a country residence

Over the centuries, the estate passed through the hands of various prominent families. A milestone year was 1773, when the estate came into the possession of the Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde family, who still own it today. This is why it is also known as Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Castle.  

Bornem Castle is not only a site steeped in history, it's also a haven for art lovers. Here, you can admire the world’s largest private collection of engravings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and a beautiful historic Flemish art cabinet. Centuries ago, such cabinets displayed and preserved paintings, jewellery, taxidermy, textiles, and other treasures. The art cabinet in Bornem is a true gem. To showcase this and many other art treasures, Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde Castle is included in Flemish Masters in Situ, a project tracing the footsteps of our artistic greats.