Flemish Castle Dubbed ‘Chambord of Flanders’ Showcased
Just a few kilometers from Ghent, nestled in the heart of the Flemish countryside, stands a castle that evokes the grand châteaux of France’s Loire Valley. Château d’Ooidonk, as RTBF recently showcased, has earned the nickname “Chambord of Flanders” for its striking resemblance to the famous French Renaissance masterpiece.
A Loire-Style Gem in East Flanders
With its imposing towers crowned with slate roofs and its meticulously ordered French-style gardens, Ooidonk Castle seems to have sprung straight from a fairy tale. The comparison to Château de Chambord is not accidental. “What strongly resembles Chambord are the towers, with their shape and the style of the castle itself,” explains Henry t’Kint de Roodenbeke, the castle’s owner. “The gardens are typically French-style gardens, very orderly, with flowerbeds, roses, bushes and lawns that surround the entire castle.”
Located in the city of Deinze, East Flanders, approximately 15 kilometers from Ghent, the castle is considered one of the finest examples of Hispano-Flemish Renaissance architecture in Belgium. As Wikipedia notes, it sits at an altitude of 11 meters on the banks of the Leie River, surrounded by a moat on all sides.
A Living Castle, Not a Museum
What sets Ooidonk apart from many historic landmarks is that it remains a private residence. Count Henry t’Kint de Roodenbeke, the sixth count of his line, lives there with his three children. “You can’t visit the castle without a guide, because it’s inhabited. It’s not a museum, I live here,” he told RTBF.
This living status means visitors can only explore the castle through guided tours. The owner himself admits he doesn’t know exactly how many rooms the castle contains. “All I can tell you is that there are 110 windows,” he says. “So the castle probably has about a hundred rooms.”
Inside, visitors encounter period furniture, 17th-century tapestries depicting Alexander the Great’s triumphal entry into Babylon, Delft porcelain, paintings, and sculptures by notable Belgian artists including Jean-Michel Folon and Catherine François. While the architecture and gardens evoke France, the omnipresent Flemish artworks remind visitors they are firmly in the heart of Flanders.
A History Written in Conflict and Resilience
Ooidonk’s story stretches back nearly eight centuries. First mentioned in historical records in 1230, the site began as a fortress built to defend the city of Ghent and fortify the river Leie. According to the official castle website, it was the residence of the lords of Nevele and owned by the dukes of Montmorency, including the famous Philip, Count of Hornes.
The castle’s history is deeply intertwined with the turbulent events of the 16th century. In 1568, its owner Philippe II de Montmorency-Nivelle, Count of Hornes, was beheaded alongside the Count of Egmont by the Spanish Duke of Alba in Brussels. The castle was destroyed twice — first in 1491 by the people of Ghent in revolt against Maximilian I of Austria, and again in 1579 during the wars of religion when Ghent Calvinists burned it down.
After the second destruction, Antwerp merchant and banker Maarten della Faille acquired the ruins and rebuilt the castle in the Hispano-Flemish Renaissance style as a pleasure residence, giving it the form visitors see today. The property remained in the della Faille family for about 200 years before being acquired in 1864 by Henri t’Kint de Roodenbeke, who would go on to become President of the Belgian Senate (1892-1899) and Minister of State.
A “Tour of the World” in Belgium
The RTBF feature is part of the broadcaster’s “Tour du Monde en Belgique” series, created by Marie Voght, a Belgian micro-adventurer passionate about local escape. As RTBF reported, the concept showcases Belgian destinations that evoke places from around the world, allowing Belgians to “travel the world” without leaving their country. The Ooidonk segment, presented by Nathalie Guirma, aired on July 31, 2026.
The castle’s appeal extends beyond its architectural splendor. Visitors like Alicia describe the experience as stepping into another century. “It’s as if everything stops,” she told RTBF. “I imagine myself in the place of the lords or even the villagers.” She also noted that Belgian castles deserve more recognition: “We talk a lot about the ones in France, but there are many in Belgium and they are magnificent.”
Indeed, Belgium holds the record for the most castles per square kilometer in the world — a fact that makes landmarks like Ooidonk all the more significant. As La Libre noted, Ooidonk is consistently described as one of the most beautiful castles in the country.
Visiting Ooidonk
The castle is open to the public from April 1 to November 1, with guided tours on Sundays and public holidays at 2:15 PM and 4:00 PM, and additional Saturday tours in July and August. According to the official visit page, admission is €15 for adults and €4 for children up to 12 years. The French-style gardens, part of a 45-hectare park, are open year-round from Tuesday afternoon to Sunday.
For those seeking a deeper connection to Belgian heritage, Ooidonk offers more than a photo opportunity. It is a living testament to resilience — a castle that rose from the ashes of war and religious conflict to become one of Flanders’ most treasured landmarks. As the LangsDeLeie tourism guide describes it, the castle’s exterior with its many turrets, stepped gables, and chimneys evokes the image of the Loire castles like Chambord — a fitting tribute to a Flemish jewel that rivals its French counterparts.
A video segment from the RTBF series offers a visual tour of the castle for those who cannot visit in person.
What to Watch For
As Belgium continues to celebrate its architectural heritage, Ooidonk Castle stands as a reminder that world-class landmarks need not require a passport. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply seeking a fairy-tale escape, the “Chambord of Flanders” offers a journey through time just a stone’s throw from Ghent.