Constructed in: 1617
Typology: castle
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"Kasteel Beauvoorde" is a moated castle located in Wulveringem, a part of Veurne in West Flanders, Belgium. The first known owner was Jan de Valuwe in 1408. The castle was burned down by the Geuzen in 1584 and rebuilt in Renaissance style in 1617 by Jacob de Bryarde; his family owned it until 1828. By then, it had deteriorated into a farm and faced demolition. In 1875, Arthur Merghelynck restored and expanded the castle, furnishing it with 17th-century pieces and replicas, and added a Franco-English garden. In 1905, Merghelynck bequeathed the castle to the Belgian State, stipulating it be made available to the Royal Academy for Dutch Language and Literature (KANTL). The castle was protected as a monument in 1987. Today, Kasteel Beauvoorde is open to visitors with an audio guide and features a heritage shop and visitor center.
