Baron André van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge, or "Baron André" for short, was the "governor," the highest administrator of NorthBrabant. The baron lived here in the nineteenth century.
Collection of paintings from history
Back then, people loved history, especially the time of knights and castles - the Middle Ages. Baron André not only bought the medieval Castle Heeswijk himself, he also had it completely decorated in knightly style, complete with armor, coats of arms and a collection of real weapons. He collected a lot of paintings and items from history.
So the Baron, his wife Eugénie and their three sons Amedée, Louis and Alberic lived in a museum, so to speak. Later, Louis and Alberic actually turned it into a museum. The main castle, where we are standing now, was called "Musée De Bogaerde" in French.
So the Baron, his wife Eugénie and their three sons Amedée, Louis and Alberic lived in a museum, so to speak. Later, Louis and Alberic actually turned it into a museum. The main castle, where we are standing now, was called "Musée De Bogaerde" in French.
Purchased by an old Dutch painting
Baron André got the idea to buy the castle from an old Dutch painting from 1650. The painting is on your screen. Do you recognize the castle, on the horizon? It did look a little different back then. The west tower on the right is still there, but the blunt gate tower next to it no longer exists. Some of the buildings of the outer castle, with those stepped gables, were later demolished. And apparently there was then a garden with marble statues, which have also disappeared now.
It seems that Baron André first saw Castle Heeswijk in this painting. He came from Belgium, but because he had been appointed Governor of North-Brabant, he was looking for a suitable house near here. Somewhere in the Brabant countryside, with plenty of healthy air for his wife Eugénie. Baron André loved this castle! And in 1834, he became the new owner.
It seems that Baron André first saw Castle Heeswijk in this painting. He came from Belgium, but because he had been appointed Governor of North-Brabant, he was looking for a suitable house near here. Somewhere in the Brabant countryside, with plenty of healthy air for his wife Eugénie. Baron André loved this castle! And in 1834, he became the new owner.
