Ter Wallen Castle
The stately castle in neo-Flemish Renaissance style dates from 1906 and exudes a lot of history. Ter Wallen was built by Joseph Van Naemen on the site where the farmstead De Rode Poort used to be. The name Ter Wallen refers to the ramparts that once surrounded the farm.
The famous architect Walter Vercoutere provided the design. Together with his father (Jules Vercoutere) he formed 'Bureau Technique Vercoutere' with headquarters in Ghent and a branch in Izegem. They mainly designed homes for wealthy citizens and industrialists, as well as commercial buildings.
The builder
The builder, Joseph van Naemen, came from a prosperous textile family from Sint-Niklaas. He was born there on 25 December 1871.
At the age of 33 (1904), he married Susanne Vanden Bogaerde. She was the daughter of Valère Vanden Bogaerde, a large landowner and mayor of Izegem. He was an industrialist by profession and founded the Izegem power station in 1900.
Joseph Van Naemen was an important figure in Izegem. In 1907, he became a municipal councillor and in 1909 alderman. He was active in numerous associations.
Further progress...
Joseph and Susanne were able to enjoy Ter Wallen Castle for four years. In 1910, Susanne died at a young age and Joseph was left alone. Three years later, Joseph Ter Wallen said goodbye and returned to his hometown.
He leased the castle to the Urselin Sisters of Blois, where private lessons were given to children of the Izegem bourgeoisie. In the summer of 1917, the castle was set up as a military hospital for German soldiers who returned wounded from the battlefield.
After the Second World War, the castle was sold to the brush manufacturer Wybo from Izegem. He turned it into an occasional restaurant and all kinds of parties were organised on the estate. Former Flemish Minister President Geert Bourgeois also got married on the castle estate. At the beginning of 1985, the restaurant officially closed its doors and the castle became privately inhabited.
