During the war the castle was occupied by German troops. Van Caloen and his family were banned and the staff had to serve the occupiers. “He was between hammer and anvil for four years,” said Devlamynck. “He tried to protect his villagers, but also had to meet German requirements.”
‘J’Espère Que Je Ne Vous Dérange Pas Trop’ bundles this and other remarkable stories about Loppem and life in the castle in an accessible book.