CASTLES DILBEEK

Groot-Bijgaarden Castle is a 12th-century fortress in Dilbeek that evolved from a medieval stronghold protecting trade routes between Brussels and Ghent into a Renaissance residence befitting the Counts of Egmont. By 1902, extensive restoration began under Raymond Pelgrims Bigard, lasting thirty years and reviving the castle's former grandeur. Today, the moated castle and its magnificent park serve as the spectacular setting for Floralia Brussels, an international spring flower festival celebrated with over one million bulbs planted annually. The exhibition has earned the World Tulip Award and transforms the castle grounds into a sensory experience of floral carpets, curated flowerbeds, and vibrant gardens.

De Viron Castle is a striking neo-Gothic mansion built in 1862 in Dilbeek, Belgium, commissioned by the de Viron family. Designed by architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar, this architectural masterpiece features 12 towers, 52 rooms, and 365 windows, with proportions reflecting the Julian calendar. Constructed on the ruins of a 14th-century fortification, the castle is surrounded by an expansive park with several heritage structures including a farm, ice cellar, and coach house. Since 1923, it has served as the town hall and municipal offices of Dilbeek and was protected as a monument in 1990.

Kasteel Nieuwermolen is a 15th-century fortified water fortress constructed in traditional brick and sandstone, featuring distinctive stepped gable rooflines and an L-shaped layout around a central keep. Located on the border between Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle and Asse in the Dilbeek region, the castle is accessed via a 300-meter tree-lined avenue and surrounded by grounds with an octagonal ice house from 1836 and rare mature trees including a North American amber tree. A protected heritage monument since 1962, the castle remains privately inhabited though it may be viewed from distance along local walking routes.