Family History.

The Family History
of the Counts of Lalaing

The Family History of the Counts of Lalaing Zandbergen Castle History The Castle of Zandbergen is today the home of the 16th Count and Countess of Lalaing and their family. The Estate has been in the family’s possession since the 13th Century, and the first records of when the castle was built date back to 1360, when William of Oisy, Lord of Zandbergen, moved into the castle. He received it from his wife Maria van Outer, a descendant of the van Aa family, the original Lords of Zandbergen.

The peasants revolt in 1580 left the castle badly damaged and as a result the North wing had to be reconstructed. The tower as a symbol of power and a look out point for hunting along the Dender valley, was also eventually rebuilt in 1630.

A Century later in 1708, the Duke of Marlborough’s army caused extensive damage to the property which lead to the castle being rebuilt in the classical style. The smallholding later known as Hof van Lier farm, was reconstructed in 1752.