In the 1970s, Jean Kestergat undertook the complete restoration of Kestergat Castle. His ancestor Jean-Adolphe van der Dussen had built it in 1685, but the building left the family during the French invasion at the end of the 18th century. JK’s father, Marcel van der Dussen de Kestergat, bought it after the First World War, but the building had become a farmhouse and was falling into disrepair due to lack of maintenance.
Initial condition, photo probably dating from the 1960s.
Work in progress. The central wing (behind the crane) is undergoing renovation: removing the first layer of Spanish bricks, replacing with new bricks. The left wing and the right wing have already had their bricks replaced. However, the roof still needs to be renovated. We see the peak above the right wing, with its bell, which was perhaps used to call people to the chapel at prayer time, or, more prosaically, to call agricultural workers at mealtime.
Once the work was completed, JK spent almost twenty years there. After his death, the castle remained occupied by his wife Jacqueline and his daughter Ghislaine. Then it was sold to M Janssens de Bisthoven, who in turn undertook renovation work. Here is a file of photos showing the castle in its current state. Note: the bell tower has disappeared, but the bell itself was recovered by the family.
Isn’t the castle, with its moat, somewhat reminiscent of the castle of the family’s Dutch ancestors? Below the beautiful entrance hall, and the upper part of the charming chapel, which became the office where JK wrote his last works, including the History of the van der Dussen.
