Beersel Castle: A Journey Back in Time

Toerisme Pajottenland & Zennevallei

Step into the Middle Ages at Beersel Castle, This beautifully preserved stronghold looks much as it did when it was first built in the late 15th century, offering a rare glimpse into what life was like in a medieval castle.

A Beautifully Preserved Military Masterpiece

Beersel Castle is both an impressive moated fortress and a kind of time machine that instantly carries you back to the Middle Ages. Located in the green outskirts of Brussels, it’s a well-preserved example of the military architecture of that era. The castle still stands just as it did at the end of the 15th century.

What was life like in a medieval fortified castle? See it for yourself, as you wonder at the moat, the drawbridge, the thick brick walls, the crenellations with parapets, and the arrow slits. Inside, archaeological finds provide even more insight into daily life in those times. Beersel truly takes you back in time.

Bjorn Snelders

From Border Post to Museum

The Middle Ages were full of conflict, and this region was no exception. Those who held power and land had to defend it, and Beersel Castle played its part. It was built in the 14th or 15th century in the village of Beersel, then part of the Duchy of Brabant. It probably served as a border defence against the rival counties of Flanders and Hainaut. The castle was also innovative for its time, as it’s one of the oldest brick-built castles in the region.

Over the centuries, it changed hands many times. Early on, it belonged to the noble Van Wittem family, who had close ties to the Count of Egmont. The last heir of this family supported Egmont’s plea for greater religious freedom. You can visit the Van Wittem family tombs in the nearby Saint Lambert’s Church.

The castle then passed into the hands of the noble Arenberg family. They neglected the site, even using parts of the castle as building materials for renovations at the Egmont Palace in Brussels.

Bjorn Snelders

Oud Beersel Brewery

Combine your castle visit with a beer tasting at Oud Beersel Brewery. The brewery, just a short walk from the castle, has been brewing lambic beers the traditional way since 1882. Their Oude Geuze, Oud Beersel, was even named the best Lambic/Geuze beer in the world.

Visit both the brewery and the castle for a complete experience.