Gaasbeek Castle, a Gem in the Green

Proud Gaasbeek Castle provides a complete experience. This moated fortress, with stories that stretch back for centuries, is home to an impressive art collection, set in a green oasis.

Art and History in a Stunning Estate

Gaasbeek Castle brings together many worlds. It is both a moated fortress with a long history and a museum with a rich collection. Admire precious furniture, tapestries, paintings, sculptures , silverware, and much more. All these treasures are spread out across 20 rooms. They offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the lords and ladies of the castle in days gone by.

You can admire the facades and the rich collection, while also enjoying the surrounding landscape. This castle and its 49-hectare park are located in a green oasis on the outskirts of Brussels, a dream location for some deep relaxation. The stress of daily life evaporates among centuries-old trees, ponds, avenues, paths, and historic buildings.

Eight Centuries of Stories

Gaasbeek Castle is deeply rooted in its surroundings. A fortress already stood on this site as early as 1240. It was probably used to protect the Duchy of Brabant. Gaasbeek was chosen as a strategic location, as it was near the borders of Brabant and the counties of Flanders and Hainaut.

Almost a century and a half later, a dark chapter began for Gaasbeek. In 1388, the castle was completely destroyed by an angry mob from Brussels avenging the murder of freedom fighter Everard t’Serclaes. The castle was eventually rebuilt and would later become a base for prominent figures in the history of the Low Countries. Among others, the Count of Egmont lived here in the years before his death.

However the story of Gaasbeek did not end there. In the late 18th century, the Italian noble family Arconati bought the castle. Around 100 years later, the artistic intellectual Marchioness Marie Arconati Visconti transformed her country retreat into the romantic, neo-Gothic fairy-tale castle we see today. Even within the castle walls, you can still see her influence. A large part of the art on display in Gaasbeek Castle comes from her personal collection.