Castle Beauvoorde

See how they lived in the 17th century at this eccentric castle just outside of Veurne. Lots of kid-friendly things to do plus tons of history for adults. The park is cute too!

The Castle

Go on a self-guided tour of the quirky Castle Beauvoorde (Kasteel Beauvoorde). This hidden gem has been around since about the 12th century. But it really came to life in the 1800s thanks to an eccentric nobleman, Arthur Merghelynck, who redesigned the whole place to look like a proper 17th century castle.

As long as you book ahead, you can now explore the 17th century authentic interior packed with pretty trinkets and beautiful furniture. You never know what weird gems collected by Merghelynck you’ll find. History buffs have to check it out! You get an informative audio guide, available in multiple languages (Dutch, English).

Bonus kid-friendly points for the castle! Your little ones get a different audio guide that makes the info easier to digest too. You’ll learn all about what it was like to live in a different century.

Walk in the Park

The castle park might only be 2 hectares, but it’s a cute and cozy spot. There’s room for picnics and nice walks. They’ve made it so you get info on the nature inside as well. The panels along the walk to tell you about the plant life. Don’t miss the pretty tree orchard, just cross over the bridge.

• Kid Friendly: kids will find activities outside like the treasure hunt and stuff to do inside too like the drawing area. The castle’s great for families looking for a museum with character
• Backstory: Merghelynck bought Castle Beauvoorde when he was 23. Back then, the castle wasn’t looking so hot. He spent a lot of time and money jazzing it up to the 17th century style castle we see today