Those who normally only know the castle from the outside now have a unique opportunity to look inside. Jérôme Matthieu de Wynendaele himself welcomes visitors at the gate and guides them through the historic moated castle and the surrounding domain.
“Welcome to Wynendaele. Someone said Wijnendale, but sorry, that is wrong,” the castle lord jokes at the start of the tour. He talks about the many historical moments that took place on the domain, such as the accident of Mary of Burgundy and the capitulation of Belgium during the Second World War.
The Matthieu family has lived on the domain for almost two centuries. “My ancestor Jos Pierre Matthieu bought the castle here in 1833. We are one of the longest-living families here,” says Jérôme Matthieu de Wynendaele.
After years in Brussels, he now lives full-time in the castle. In addition to managing the building, he is involved in agriculture and forest management. “Managing such a building means a lot. It is fantastic for me, but I am also happy that I can share it with the people.”