Kasteel van Bornem

About the museum

The castle of Bornem lies on the banks of the Oude Schelde and has a history of more than a thousand years. According to the sources, a moated stronghold already stood here in the ninth or tenth century as a defence against the Normans. For centuries the estate changed hands: the burgraves of Ghent, the counts of Flanders, and families from the Burgundian and Habsburg periods. After the fall of Antwerp in 1586, Pedro Coloma bought the estate, had the dilapidated castle rebuilt and founded the Abbey of Bornem. His descendant later received the title of first Count of Bornem from King Philip IV.

In the eighteenth century the estate passed by marriage to the de Marnix family. The present building is the result of a thorough renovation by architect Hendrik Beyaert, in which the old Renaissance castle was almost entirely demolished and rebuilt. The castle is still privately owned and lived in; Count John de Marnix opened part of the estate to the public in 1985.

On the guided tour you visit richly furnished salons in Louis XV and Louis XVI style, a smoking room, a library with more than two thousand old books and a lace room. The count owns a large collection of prints by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and an interactive Bruegel room was opened in 2021. A permanent exhibition highlights Philip of Marnix of Saint-Aldegonde, right-hand man of William of Orange, who is known as a diplomat, Bible translator and writer of the Wilhelmus. The estate consists mainly of woodland with avenues of poplars, oaks and red beeches.

Highlights

• Inhabited castle with salons in Louis XV and XVI style
• Prints by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and an interactive Bruegel room
• Permanent exhibition on Philip of Marnix of Saint-Aldegonde
• Library with more than 2,000 old books and a lace room
• Carriage museum and experience centre in the outbuildings
• Woodland estate on the Oude Schelde

Permanent exhibitions

• Kasteelrondleiding met salons en bibliotheek – Guided tour of the inhabited salons, the smoking room, the library with old books and the lace room.
• Bruegelgravures en interactieve Bruegelzaal – The prints by Pieter Bruegel the Elder from the count’s private collection, supplemented by an interactive room since 2021.
• Filips van Marnix van Sint-Aldegonde – Permanent exhibition on William of Orange’s right-hand man: his role in the defence of Antwerp, his work as a cryptographer and Bible translator, and his connection with the Wilhelmus.

Operated by

Familie de Marnix de Sainte Aldegonde (privébezit)

Admission & discounts

The price of €16 applies to the tour of the castle, carriage museum and experience centre. Booking can be done via the online booking system.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Because of its historic character the castle is not suitable for people with limited mobility. The experience centre is wheelchair-friendly, and the carriage museum is accessible to less mobile visitors and wheelchair users.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children aged 0 to 6 enter free; the interactive Bruegel room is intended for educational purposes.

Getting there & parking

The castle is a good starting point for a visit to the Scheldt region and lies on the route of the Scheldt castles.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The castle and estate are available for corporate events, photo shoots (including wedding photos) and filming; please contact them via the website.

Plan your visit