Sterrebeek Castle – Open to the Public Once a Year

Every last Sunday in June you have the chance to discover Kasteel van Sterrebeek and its delightful grounds.

Nestled on the eastern outskirts of Brussels lies a hidden treasure waiting to be explored. For just one day each year, the gates of Kasteel van Sterrebeek swing open, inviting visitors to enjoy the private park and a host of activities. This year it’s open on Sunday 28 June 2026.

A tapestry of gardens

As you wander through the castle grounds, prepare to be amazed by the variety of landscapes that unfold before you. You can discover a different garden around every corner. You can walk under the shelter of some magnificent ancient trees (including Giant Sequoias and Dawn Redwoods) and later enjoy a wide view of the ponds and the castle. You can admire the perfect symmetry of the mirror pond and the orangery. And then you may suddenly find yourself in a fairytale scene with an idyllic stream and bridge.

You can stroll through the stunning rose garden, and take a trip through the vegetable gardens, orchards and greenhouses. To top it all off, you can admire a copy of the famous ‘Tower of the Winds’ that sits high on the Acropolis.

From bankers to barons

The history of the castle and the beautiful park surrounding it go back as far as 1761. This was when this stately home was built as a country residence for the Brussels banker Jean-Antoine Ories. Over the decades, the domain saw various owners come and go. In 1914, like so many buildings in the region, it was occupied by German soldiers. For a time it housed a so-called ‘institution for weak children’ under the name Le Clair Logis. However, the castle and surrounding gardens remained in private hands and still are today. The castle is currently inhabited by the de Selliers family.

Since 1958 the castle and gatehouse have been protected as monuments, and the surrounding park has also been given protected landscape status. Although you can clearly see the gatehouse from the street, you cannot simply pop in to take a look. After all, the domain is still private.

Music, food and fun for all ages

Fortunately, for one day a year, the castle park is opened up for free access, and for the 2025 event a lot of activities for young and old are running:

• Come face to face with a real Chinese dragon and the giant Da Tong! Do this together with the volunteers of NiHao Leuven who strive for more integration with the Chinese community and culture.
• Try a Qi Gong session and feel completely zen, more grounded and flexible afterwards. Also with NiHao Leuven.
• For a moment you can imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages. Immerse yourself in the world and daily life of real knights and feel free to join a real sword fight. The Knight’s Order of Duke Jan welcomes you.
• Let yourself be enchanted by Indian Kathak dances together with Dr. Aaricia Ponnet. Watch, listen, enjoy and dream away with these beautiful movements and music.
• In the orangery and on the meadow in front of it you can visit no less than 20 different stalls with handmade and (mostly) self-designed items.
• On the same meadow at the orangery you will find super fun, super large board games.
• After, before or during your visit you can enjoy a snack from the food trucks and a drink on the terrace (meadow in front), where you will also find the bouncy castle!

A location for a famous movie

An extra bit of information is that Kasteel van Sterrebeek has featured in the movies! “So Little Time” is a 1952 British World War II romantic drama starring Marius Goring. The movie was made at Elstree studios but a unit went out to Belgium to film various outdoor scenes. Some of these scenes were shot at Kasteel van Sterrebeek, which stood in for the Château de Malvines in the movie. Here’s the movie trailer:

“So Little Time” was actually rather unusual for its time. The reason is that it portrays its German characters in a mainly sympathetic manner, while the Belgian Resistance characters are depicted in an aggressive, almost gangster-type light. In the early 1950s, this was not a viewpoint that British audiences and critics expected in a British film and there was considerable protest about the film’s content.?

Enjoy your day at Kasteel van Sterrebeek

Access to Kasteel van Sterrebeek on Sunday 29 June 2025 is free. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The address to head for is Zavelstraat 2, 1933 Sterrebeek.

The agenda for the day

Many thanks to Sterrebeek resident Herman Vandecauter for his photos from previous open days at Kasteel van Sterrebeek. Considering that Herman is a renowned player of the classical/19th century guitar, ukulele, and mandolin, I am surprised that he hasn’t been asked to give a concert on Sunday! Perhaps the organizers will ask him next year, hint hint?

More on Sterrebeek

Interested to discover more on Sterrebeek? Read my post called “Two Mysteries of Sterrebeek“, which presents two little-known but puzzling stories about this town.

Where to stay near Sterrebeek

Here are a couple of B&Bs for which I have heard extremely good reports:

• Bed and Breakfast Ros & Marc, Steenput, 6, 1933 Wezembeek-Oppem: “Everything was perfect! Hosts were welcoming. The bed was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever had in all of Europe.”
• B&B Aline Florentine, Annonciadenstraat 27, 3078 Kortenberg: “Breakfast was fantastic and very extensive. Hosts were extremely friendly and helpful. Really recommended to stay here.”

To find other accommodation possibilities in the area, feel free to use the link below:

Denzil Walton

I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.