Kasteel Van Huizingen-EN

Brunch p 24-25

Reception Packages p 26-27

Menu Packages p 28-29

Buffet Packages p 30-31

Evening Party Packages p 32-33

Condolence Packages p 34-35

Our Wine p 36-37

Impression p 38-41

Map Layout p 42-43

Contact p 44

EIGHT CENTURIES

The exact date of the initial construction of the castle here is not officially recorded, but documents from 1191 and 1236 already mention the Castle of Huizingen. The owners of the castle have been traced back to 1491.

A meter-thick foundation made of rock blocks was discovered 15 meters in front of the building in 1941. These are likely the original foundations of the “maison de plaisance,” as the castle was often referred to in ancient texts.

Originally, the castle was built in the marsh that was present at the time to facilitate the defense of the small Meerbeek valley.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the castle was completely destroyed by fire due to the failure to pay “fire money” to passing armies. In 1545, Pieter Boisot de jonge had the castle restored and renamed it to the Court of Boisot, the “Hoff Ter Borght” or the Playhouse.

The current foundation dates back to 1602, but in 1875, it was almost completely demolished and rebuilt in neo-Renaissance style by Albert Vaucamps under the direction of architect Blondiau from Brussels.

ALBERT VAUCAMPS

17 april 1837 - 25 december 1900

MOST RECENT MARK

Albert Vaucamps was the son of Charles Vaucamps (1778-1852), who also held the mayoralty of Huizingen. In 1875, he inherited the castle and domain that had been purchased by his father in 1819.

Albert held numerous positions; aside from being a Belgian senator and mayor of Huizingen, he was also a public works contractor and the managing director of the “Société de tramways Belgian streetrailway and omnibus company,” co-founder of the Société des tramways Bruxellois, and a director of the Ferrovie Nord Milano.

With the fortune he amassed from the construction of railways and the development and operation of the Brussels tram lines, Albert rebuilt the castle and spent 18 years of his life on the expansion and planning of the estate. He acquired dozens of small properties, abolished roads between them, and hired the best surveyors and builders to realize his dream of a picturesque scene in the Zenne Valley.

The then major road from Huizingen to Alsemberg, known as the procession road over Bruineput, was also abolished. The existing stone bridge there was built by Vaucamps, and the current Vijverlaan became private property of the lord of the castle in 1879.

Vaucamps personally designed all the plantings. When he stayed in Milan between 1879 and 1883 for railway construction, he wrote dozens of letters to his confidant in Huizingen with instructions and ideas for the further development of the estate.

In 1900, the estate was valued at 6 million Belgian francs, which today would be approximately 2.634 billion euros. However, it was sold to Hendrik (Henri) Torley on 31 August 1903 for the sum of 550 thousand Belgian francs.

TODAY

The castle still fulfills its core mission. It quickens the hearts of many, both during the day when swans majestically adorn the surrounding pond and at night when the water reflects the building and its history as the most timeless scene of Flemish Brabant.

The restaurant, with a terrace area of 250m², offers everyone the chance to enjoy both brasserie dishes and delights for gourmets in the shadow of the castle.

There are 4 rooms available that have been fully renovated, balancing modern and old.

The first room on the ground floor, “de Essentie,” with a conservatory is 85m² and comes with its own terrace, also measuring 85m² .

On the first floor, you will find 3 multifunctional modular rooms of respectively twice 50m² and once 100m². These can be extended with a corridor of another 50m² or used as one room of 250m² .

“

The idyllic location combined with the fully renovated rooms makes the Castle of Huizingen the perfect wedding venue.

ARCANUM BONI

TENORIS ANIMAE

© L. Loucks

© L. Loucks

© L. Loucks

ROCK GARDEN “BLOEMENDAL”

On a slope to the east of the castle lies the rock garden “Bloemendal.” Landscape architect Paul Dewit designed the alpine garden Bloemendal in 1956 in the run-up to the World Exhibition of 1958.

A grand staging of natural rock formations and various plant species were brought together in ecological associations, which at the time was revolutionary thinking. The garden is a highlight in the evolution of “the rock garden” in Europe and has been protected as a monument since 12 December 2002.

A naturally babbling mountain stream 330m long flows down with a flow rate of 20,000 liters of water per hour. Along its course, there are 68 waterfalls and 11 ponds. The whole is adorned with more than 1,000 tons of weathered limestone rock, boulders, and flagstones. Furthermore, the garden houses more than 81,000 ornamental plants. The perfectly eastwest oriented garden is accessed by four winding paths that converge at the top of the garden, by the large waterfall. The main walking paths of the ‘Inner Park’ cross the ‘Flower Valley’. To the north and south of the alpine garden is the landscaped rose garden, which, together with the trees and perennials, forms a smooth transition to the castle.

The perfect location for your wedding photos.

PROVINCIAL DOMAIN

In the shadow of the castle lies an expansive estate of approximately 91 hectares, offering something for everyone.

Around the castle is a large rowing pond where visitors can sail around in rowboats or pedal boats, while a tourist train takes you to the most beautiful spots in the park. For the little ones, a ride in an electric mini-car is guaranteed to be a hit (during the summer season from April 1 to September 30).

The forest, rich with numerous deciduous and coniferous tree species, is a true hiker’s paradise. In April and May, the ground is covered with a floral carpet of wild daffodils and bluebells.

© L. Loucks

© Provincie Vlaams-Brabant

© Provincie Vlaams-Brabant

© E. Devogeleer

The zoo is divided into three zones.

The castle collection houses pheasants, waterfowl, fallow deer, and parakeets, while the heritage collection includes pigeons and chickens. Goats, sheep, and rabbits are part of the petting collection.

Information and interactive panels ensure that families with children can discover the various animals in the park in a fun and engaging way.

RESTAURANT

In our restaurant, we combine the traditional brasserie cuisine with gems for enthusiasts. With every dish, you will undoubtedly recognize the passion of our staff.

We cook with respect for people and nature. In our kitchen, we only use preserved tomatoes of honorable origin with the D.O.P. label from Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, Italy, ensuring our products are free from slavery. Products of dubious origin, such as battery chickens, are strictly prohibited in our establishment.

Thanks to a limited menu, we produce a minimal amount of waste, allowing our prices to remain highly competitive in the market despite the quality of the products used.

We prefer local suppliers and producers, but we do not hesitate to import exclusive products where necessary. kasteelvanhuizingen.be/menu

HIGH-LEVEL CATERING

Beyond our restaurant, we are fully equipped to meticulously cater to all your events, both indoor and outdoor.

Our culinary creations are an ode to the senses, carefully crafted to not only appeal to taste and smell but also to offer visual, auditory, somatosensory, and trigeminal sensations. Our chefs, true artists with boundless passion, translate their versatile talent into every dish, from appetizers to desserts.

While their hearts beat faster for artisanal broths, classic encroûte dishes, and rich butter sauces, they do not shy away from enriching dishes with fresh dressings and crispy sea vegetables.

Within our walls, we serve an omakase menu that reveals the heart of our culinary ethos. Do you wish to discover the soul of our kitchen? Then let yourself be tempted into an exclusive gastronomic journey with our four-course tasting menu, meticulously composed for the true gastronome. Including a curated selection of wines, refreshing waters, aromatic coffees, and refined non-alcoholic options - a harmony of flavors and experiences that will enchant your senses.

Please reserve your experience at least 48 hours in advance and prepare for an unforgettable culinary indulgence.

Our culinary philosophy reflects a worldly perspective, free from dogmas, embracing the essence of diversity.

Three rooms are equipped with electric projection screens. We only use high-quality projectors that feature laser lamp technology.

WIRELESS NETWORK

Within and around the castle, you have access to a complimentary high-quality Wi-Fi network. The network is constructed with Cisco equipment supporting the latest frequency and roaming technologies.

“

The castle is a mere minute away from the Brussels Ring Road (Exit 20 Huizingen) and boasts over 1000 parking spaces.

Thanks to our in-house catering service, you can choose from sandwiches or indulge in the most exquisite dishes and everything in between.

The extensive gardens surrounding the castle provide a perfect off-site experience.

PACKAGES

PACKAGE 1

€ 40

PACKAGE 2

€ 48

Coffee, Tea, Juice, Soft Drinks, Water & Wine (Lunch)

Fruit & Sweets

Breakfast: 3 Mini Breakfast Pastries

Lunch: 3 Sandwiches pp.

9 HOURS

PACKAGE 3

€ 70 pp.

Coffee, Tea, Juice, Soft Drinks, Water & Wine (Lunch)

Fruit & Sweets

Breakfast: 3 Mini Breakfast Pastries

Lunch: 2 Course Menu

9 HOURS

Coffee, Tea, Juice, Soft Drinks, Water & Wine (Lunch)

Fruit & Sweets

Breakfast: 3 Mini Breakfast Pastries

Lunch: 3 Sandwiches

Soup, Salad & Pasta pp.

9 HOURS

€ 10

1 Glass of Cava 1 Appetizer pp.

30 MINUTES

BANQUET HALLS

Life is a dance to music that must be played by oneself.

Together, we choose the notes for the most beautiful melody.

There are 4 rooms available that have been fully renovated, achieving a balance between modern and traditional.

The first room on the ground floor, “de Essentie,” with a conservatory is 85m² and is accompanied by its own terrace, also measuring 85m².

On the first floor, you will find 3 multi-purpose modular rooms of respectively twice 50m² and once 100m². These can be extended with a corridor of another 50m² or used as one room of 250m²

Using our catering service is not mandatory.

BRUNCH

Every first Sunday of the month, the castle transforms into a paradise for food lovers!

The brunch formula is the perfect occasion to enjoy time with family or to gather with friends when the group is too small for a private party but too large for a restaurant visit. Naturally, you can also reserve a spot for just one person and enjoy the ambiance and food.

Our buffet à gogo allows everyone to heartily indulge in their chosen dishes.

You can discover our brunch calendar on our website.

kasteelvanhuizingen.be/brunch

Now, everyone can experience the luxury once reserved only for lords of the castle.

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Still Life with Ham, Lobster and Fruit, c.1652

LIVE MUSIC AND DANCE

Between, before, and after the buffets, live music suitable for young and old gets everyone up and dancing.

SOUP BUFFET WITH BOUILLABAISSE

Throughout the duration of the formula, you can enjoy a soup buffet featuring North Sea bouillabaisse among other soups like tomato soup.

ARRAY OF COLD DISHES ON PLATE

The cold buffet offers a variety of cold dishes served on individual plates.

You will find crab, foie gras, shrimp tomato, salmon, tuna, beef, veal, and many other ingredients.

HOT BUFFET WITH SHOW COOKING

Our chefs cook meat & fish of outstanding quality à la minute in the room, accompanied by warm and cold seasonal vegetables presented buffet-style.

Delicious sauces and potato dishes are, of course, indispensable.

CHEESE & DESSERTS BUFFET

Finally, not only can the sweet-toothed indulge to their heart’s content, but the cheese aficionado can also fully satisfy their taste buds.

PACKAGE 1

Cava €28 / bottle

Champagne €65 / bottle

Fruit Juice €7 / bottle

Olives & Chips

DURATION TO BE DECIDED

PACKAGE 2

€ 19,5

Cava & Fruit Juice Olives & Chips

2 Cold & 2 Hot Appetizers

1 HOUR

CHILDREN

€ 7,5

Soft Drink & Fruit Juice Chips

PACKAGE 3

€ 23

Cava & Fruit Juice Olives & Chips

2 Cold & 3 Hot Appetizers

1,5 HOURS

PACKAGES

€ 26,5

Cava & Fruit Juice Olives & Chips

3 Cold & 3 Hot Appetizers

2 HOURS

OPTIONS

Tapas Plate: €4 pp.

Dip Vegetables: €4 pp.

3 Mini Sandwiches: €9.5 pp.

Champagne: €7 pp.

Extra Appetizer: €3 pp.

Mocktail & Ice Tea: €4 pp.

PACKAGE 5

€ 36,5

Cava & Fruit Juice Olives & Chips

4 Cold & 4 Hot Appetizers

1 Dessert

3 HOURS

€ 21,5

Wine, Beer & Soft Drink

3 Mini Sandwiches

PACKAGE 6 1,5 HOURS

PACKAGE 4

MENU

Warm Main Course Dessert

Warm Main Course Dessert pp. pp.

Wines, beers, waters, soft drinks, coffees & teas included

When preparing the quote, you will be offered a choice menu

PACKAGE 1

€ 65

Cold Starter

PACKAGE 2

€ 70

Warm Starter

PACKAGE

€ 80

Cold Starter

Warm Starter

Warm Main Course

Dessert

CHILDREN’S MENU

€ 31

Children’s Ice Cream pp. pp. Option

Cheese Croquette

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

BUFFET

3-8j € 25 pp

9-12j € 40 pp

3-8j € 25 pp 9-12j € 40 pp

Wines, beers, waters, soft drinks, coffees & teas included for 3 hours

Buffet only available for groups of 50 or more

PACKAGE 1

€ 60

Cold Buffet Fish, Meat & Dessert

PACKAGE 2

€ 75

Cold & Warm Buffet Fish, Meat & Dessert

Barbecue Package Meat

Salad Bar

Dessert Buffet

3-8j € 25 pp

Luxury Barbecue Package Meat & Fish

Sharing Salads

Dessert Buffet

3-8j € 25 pp

9-12j € 40 pp

PACKAGE 3

PACKAGE 4 €

PACKAGE 1

Wines, Cava, Jupiler, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Duvel, Waters, Coffees, Teas & Soft Drinks

PACKAGE 2

Wines, Cava, Jupiler, Leffe, Hoegaarden, Duvel, Waters, Coffees, Teas & Soft Drinks

HOURS

2 HOURS

Waters, coffees & teas included

In all packages, the sandwiches are prepared by the client

PACKAGE 1

€ 22

3 Sandwiches pp

PACKAGE 2

€ 24,5

3 Sandwiches pp

1 Piece of Cake pp 1,5

CHILI-INFUSED RED MUSCAT

In 2023, we embarked on an adventurous expedition in the world of viticulture by importing red Muscat grapes from France. This experiment was not merely a trial, but an endeavor to enrich the rich eight centuries of history of the heritage Castle of Huizingen with an exclusive wine. What initially began as a modest experiment blossomed into a resoundingly successful venture.

The grapes were destemmed and fermented for 60 days. Then, in an innovative twist, we enriched the wine with chili peppers and allowed it to age for an additional month to complete malolactic fermentation.

The next step was fortifying the wine with a ten-yearold brandy from Catalonia. The end product is a fortified wine, meant to be enjoyed like Madeira or Port, offering unparalleled complexity and depth.

The first European wine to have chili peppers added during fermentation.

The wine symbolizes the castle, its surroundings & history Rugged yet Refined, Unique yet Accessible.

An ode to innovation and tradition, brought together in a bottle. “

IMPRESSION

TRADITION

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR