Castle Ter Wallen
This stately château, in the neo-Flemish Renaissance style, dates from 1906 and is steeped in history. Ter Wallen was built by Joseph Van Naemen on the site of the former De Rode Poort farmstead. The name Ter Wallen refers to the moats (“wallen”) that once surrounded the farm.
The renowned architect Walter Vercoutere drew up the design. With his father (Jules Vercoutere) he ran the ‘Bureau Technique Vercoutere’, headquartered in Ghent with a branch in Izegem. They designed chiefly homes for well-to-do citizens and industrialists, as well as commercial buildings.
The man who built it
The man who built it, Joseph Van Naemen, came from a prosperous textile family in Sint-Niklaas, where he was born on 25 December 1871.
At the age of 33 (1904) he married Susanne Vanden Bogaerde, daughter of Valère Vanden Bogaerde, a major landowner and mayor of Izegem. An industrialist by profession, in 1900 he founded Izegem’s electricity plant.
Joseph Van Naemen was a leading figure in Izegem. He became a town councillor in 1907 and an alderman in 1909, and was active in many associations.
What came after...
For four years, Joseph and Susanne were able to enjoy Château Ter Wallen. In 1910 Susanne died young, leaving Joseph alone. Three years later he bade Ter Wallen farewell and returned to his home town.
He leased the château to the Ursuline Sisters of Blois, who from then on gave private lessons to the children of Izegem’s middle class. In the summer of 1917 the château was turned into a military hospital for German soldiers returning wounded from the front.
After the Second World War the château was sold to the Izegem brush manufacturer Wybo. He turned it into an occasional restaurant, and all manner of celebrations were held on the estate. Former Flemish Minister-President Geert Bourgeois also married on the château grounds. In early 1985 the restaurant officially closed its doors and the château became a private residence.
Laurence Vansteenkiste
Laurence Vansteenkiste is your host at Boutique Hotel Ter Wallen. Brimming with energy, in 2018 she decided to make her dream real. She leased the Ter Wallen estate in Izegem and set about starting her hotel. After ten months of intensive building and renovation, the Boutique Hotel officially opened its doors on 23 September 2019.
Laurence is a host who takes pleasure in what she does. She welcomes her guests warm-heartedly and has an eye for the good things in life. She makes sure that warmth, a homely feel and authenticity are at the heart of Château Ter Wallen.
Years of experience
From a young age, Laurence has been passionate about cooking, serving people and eating well. She loves hospitality and gladly goes out of her way for others. As a teenager she often worked in restaurants, bars and hotels as a student. Those first experiences gave her the hospitality bug.
After earning her Bachelor in Hotel Management in Bruges, she dreamed of a hospitality business of her own. Once she had graduated, she first built up broad experience in the hotel sector and also worked for an importer of catering supplies. Four years on, the chance to pursue her dream came along. She seized it with both hands. Boutique Hotel Ter Wallen was born.
