Cities
Belgium Antwerp Flanders Castle

Couwelaar Castle

Couwelaar Castle
About

Couwelaar Castle, affectionately known by locals as "De Drie Torekens" or The Three Turrets, is a hidden historical gem tucked away in the Deurne district of Antwerp. Its story begins in the early 15th century, with the first recorded mentions of the estate dating back to 1402. Over the centuries, the castle transitioned from a simple medieval manor into a refined "Hof van Plaisantie," a luxury country retreat for Antwerp’s wealthy merchant class. The building is easily recognized by its distinctive L-shape and its three signature towers—two rounded ones flanking the front and a square tower at the rear—which give the estate its charming nickname. Throughout its life, the castle has undergone several stylistic transformations, evolving from its early origins into a beautiful blend of Neo-Renaissance and Rococo architecture. In the 18th century, it was significantly restored in a classical style, and later, the noble della Faille family added the lush, Italian-inspired garden elements that still define its character today. After serving for decades as a municipal administrative center, the castle was carefully restored in the early 21st century. Today, it has found a new purpose as a unique residential complex, divided into cohousing apartments.

Antwerp Belgium
Location

Couwelaar Castle (Te Couwelaar or De Drie Torekens) is located at Lakborslei 202 in the Deurne district of Antwerp, Belgium, northeast of the city center. This L-shaped 15th-century moated castle, featuring two round front towers and a square rear tower with Neo-Renaissance and Rococo elements, now serves as private cohousing apartments after municipal use and restoration. Reachable by tram line 5 from Antwerpen-Centraal station (about 20 minutes to Eksterlaar), it's surrounded by residential Deurne neighborhoods, nearby parks like Rivierenhof (2km east), shopping at Winkelcentrum Eksterlaar, and local cafes; the area offers quiet suburban charm with easy access to Antwerp Zoo (3km southwest) and the bustling city core via public transport.

Museum aan de Stroom Museum aan de Stroom Antwerp Rubenshuis Rubenshuis Antwerp Plantin‑Moretus Museum Plantin‑Moretus Museum Antwerp Snijders&Rockoxhuis Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerp Red Star Line Museum Red Star Line Museum Antwerp KMSKA ‑ Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp KMSKA ‑ Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp Antwerp FOMU ‑ Photo Museum Antwerp FOMU ‑ Photo Museum Antwerp Antwerp DIVA museum DIVA museum Antwerp Museum Mayer van den Bergh Museum Mayer van den Bergh Antwerp M HKA ‑ Museum of Contemporary Art M HKA ‑ Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp Museum De Reede Museum De Reede Antwerp Middelheim Museum Middelheim Museum Antwerp MoMu ‑ Fashion Museum Antwerp MoMu ‑ Fashion Museum Antwerp Antwerp Illusion Antwerpen Illusion Antwerpen Antwerp Chocolate Nation Chocolate Nation Antwerp Bunker Museum Antwerpen Bunker Museum Antwerpen Antwerp Museum Eugeen Van Mieghem Museum Eugeen Van Mieghem Antwerp Stampe & Vertongen Museum Stampe & Vertongen Museum Antwerp Tim Van Laere Gallery Tim Van Laere Gallery Antwerp Keteleer Gallery Keteleer Gallery Antwerp De Zwarte Panter De Zwarte Panter Antwerp Gallery Sofie Van de Velde Gallery Sofie Van de Velde Antwerp Annie Gentils Gallery Annie Gentils Gallery Antwerp Base-Alpha Gallery Base-Alpha Gallery Antwerp Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen Stadsschouwburg Antwerpen Antwerp Bourlaschouwburg Bourlaschouwburg Antwerp Elckerlyk Theatre Elckerlyk Theatre Antwerp Arenberg Theatre Arenberg Theatre Antwerp hetpaleis hetpaleis Antwerp Fakkelteater Rode Zaal Fakkelteater Rode Zaal Antwerp Toneelhuis Toneelhuis Antwerp Theater Klokhuis Theater Klokhuis Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady Cathedral of Our Lady Antwerp St. Andrew’s Church St. Andrew’s Church Antwerp St. Charles Borromeo Church St. Charles Borromeo Church Antwerp St. James’ Church St. James’ Church Antwerp St. Paul’s Church Antwerp St. Paul’s Church Antwerp Antwerp Het Steen Het Steen Antwerp Sterckshof Castle Sterckshof Castle Antwerp Sorghvliedt Castle Sorghvliedt Castle Antwerp Grote Markt Antwerp Grote Markt Antwerp Antwerp Vlaeykensgang Historic Alley Vlaeykensgang Historic Alley Antwerp Sint-Annatunnel Sint-Annatunnel Antwerp Groenplaats Groenplaats Antwerp Stadspark Stadspark Antwerp Boekenbergpark Boekenbergpark Antwerp Plantentuin Plantentuin Antwerp Zoo Antwerpen Zoo Antwerpen Antwerp Volkssterrenwacht Urania Volkssterrenwacht Urania Antwerp Michiel Coignet Observatorium Michiel Coignet Observatorium Antwerp

User attributes