CASTLES MORTSEL

Hof ten Dorpe in Mortsel, Antwerp, is a fortified residence with roots reaching to 1289, when records first documented it as a fief of Cântincrode castle. Medieval foundations and walls form its base, with a tower and gate constructed around 1500 and a chapel from the 15th century. Burned and ruined during the Dutch Revolt in 1583, the estate was rebuilt in the mid-17th century as an elegant pleasure house by the Goubau family. Extensively renovated around 1860 into neo-Flemish Renaissance style with distinctive gabled facades and an octagonal tower under slate mansard roof, it fell into disrepair from 1925 until careful restoration in 1977. The mansion gained additional fame as the filming location for the Flemish television series Het Huis Anubis (2006-2009) and now functions as a heritage residence.

Kasteel Cantecroy in Mortsel, Antwerp, is a fortified residence with architectural layers spanning six centuries. First documented in 1289 when members of the Volcaert family served as steward, the castle was acquired and expanded by Willem III van Berthout, who built a keep between 1296 and 1308. A chapel from the 15th century adds spiritual dimension to the complex. In 1550, the Perrenot de Granvelle family purchased Cantecroy and Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle transformed it into an elegant country retreat hosting prominent guests including the Counts of Egmont and Horne and William of Orange. Though the city council dismantled many defenses in 1616, Cantecroy has survived as a fortified residence, now accommodating residential apartments alongside dining and event facilities.

Fort 4 in Mortsel is one of the Brialmont forts, constructed between 1860 and 1864 from brick and sandstone as part of Antwerp's defensive strategy. Built following military engineer Henri Alexis Brialmont's plan to defend the city against future threats, this fortress comprises a sprawling 24-hectare domain. During World War I, the fort endured heavy German bombardment on October 8, 1914, and was abandoned by Belgian troops that night. In World War II, the Germans used it to store ammunition and aircraft bombs, and it suffered repeated bomb damage including strikes from V-weapons after Antwerp's liberation. Transferred to Mortsel's municipal ownership in 2000, the fort today functions as a park with guided tours available to visitors.