Kasteel Berentrode

Bonheiden, Belgium, Belgium

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Kasteel Berentrode, also known as Jachtslot van Berentrode or 't Spaanshuis, is the oldest building in the Belgian municipality of Bonheiden and is considered the origin point of the town's development.

The castle has thick foundational walls dating back to the 16th century and underwent multiple renovations over the centuries, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries when it lost its defensive character and became more of a residence. During the Nine Years' War (1689-1697), it was a fiefdom located within the Bonheiden lordship and was owned by Philipus Franciscus Baert since 1685.

By 1757, it was described as a modest building set in a forest, designed for leisure and solitude. Today, the building consists of three separate residences, including a recently restored central section. Local legends speak of an underground passage starting from the castle, although no evidence has been found.

Efforts to historically restore the castle have been ongoing since the early 21st century, and its name has been honored by naming a local sports hall after it. The castle's former moat is now a circular driveway, and the area is scenic for cyclingKasteel Berentrode.