Waldenburghaus

Eupen, Belgium, Belgium

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The Waldenburghaus is a historic moated (water) castle in the village of Kettenis, part of the municipality of Eupen in the Belgian province of Limburg, situated on Hochstraße in a large park with old trees and a specially laid‑out pond.

Originally a fief of the Our‑Lady (Marienstift) collegiate chapter in Aachen, the site was first mentioned in writing in 1266 under the name “Schloss Merols” (or “Hooghuys Merols”) and took its present form and name after Andre von Waldenburg, a high military officer, acquired it in 1661 and carried out major renovations that gave the house its current 16th‑ to 17th‑century appearance.

The building suffered a devastating fire in 1975 that destroyed much of the structure and damaged the 1805 stuccowork, and in 1977 it was bought by Alfons Knauf, who rebuilt it in its original 18th‑century style; the Walenburghaus was officially classified as a protected monument in 2013 and now consists of a rectangular brick manor house, partly surrounded by water and accessible via a stone bridge, and a farm complex with gatehouse, former coach house, and stables dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, some decorated with cornerstones bearing the heraldic shields of successive owners.