Castle fire: extent of damage only clear this morning

The Kasteel de Groote is a castle from the nineteenth century, at Eugène de Grootelaan 66.

It was the Antwerp merchant and politician Jan-Pieter Cassiers who bought the domain in 1838, when it was still vacant. Ten years later he gave the order to build a castle there. Cassiers then also became mayor of Klerken-Houthulst.

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Rich history

Jan-Pieter Cassiers and his wife, Viscountess Caroline De Platin had no children. After their death, all property went to the supervisor, Raymond de Groote. His descendants also effectively lived in the castle.

During the First World War, the castle fell into German hands. The forest of Houthulst was transformed into a junction of defenses with trenches and barbed wire barriers. The castle itself became a care center for the wounded.

At the end of the war, in 1918, the castle was reclaimed, with the necessary wounds. Although the castle was completely renovated again.

Fire

When the fire brigade received a call of a fire, it was difficult to reach the castle. Due to years of vacancy, the passage was densely overgrown. It is unknown whether the fire was started. The public prosecutor will have an expert investigate the case.

The castle has often been the target of vandalism in recent years.