Kasteel Casier Nokere

Kruisem, Belgium, Belgium

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Kasteel Casier Nokere, commonly known as Nokere Castle or Kasteel van Nokere, is a classicist water castle in the village of Nokere, part of the municipality of Kruisem in East Flanders, Belgium, located at Kasteeldreef 3 and set deep in the valley of the Hollebeek, opposite the Sint‑Ursmaruskerk.

The original medieval stronghold of the lords of Nokere dates from before the 16th century but was destroyed by fire in 1596 during the period of the Spanish Furie; it was then rebuilt in stages, and the decisive transformation came under Mathieu‑Xavier de Ghellinck, who bought the estate in 1727 and gave the building a more representative, classicist appearance.

Between 1773 and 1783 the two side wings were added, completing the present symmetrical, three‑part neoclassical residence, and under later owners, including the Vanhove, de Witte and finally the Casier families, the estate and building remained virtually unchanged except for interior renovations and partial redesign of the park in the 18th‑century tradition by landscape architect René Pechère.

The estate is approached along a straight, tree‑lined Kasteeldreef with plane trees, and includes a 17th‑century gatehouse with the tombstone of Jacob van Gavere, a coachhouse that houses a collection of carriages from the 18th and 19th centuries, and other service buildings, all set within a large 12‑hectare landscape park with a number of ponds and a rich variety of trees and plantings.