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It all began in 1831 when Count Ferdinand de Meeûs, Governor of the Société Générale de Belgique, acquired the vast Argenteuil estate on the southern edge of the Sonian Forest (Square d’Argenteuil, 1410 Waterloo).
Two castles were built here:
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The Argenteuil Castle
The first castle of Argenteuil, also known as the Meeûs castle, was built in 1837 by the estate’s owner, Count Ferdinand de Meeûs.
Destroyed by fire in 1847, it was rebuilt in 1858 in the French Renaissance style. Flanked by four square towers, it was designed by the renowned architect of the time, Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar.
From 1992 to 2020, the castle and its 14-hectare park were home to the Scandinavian School. Since then, the site has been home to the European School of Brussels-Argenteuil.
Not open to visitors
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©Geerts
The Tuck Castle
Named after American businessman William Tuck, who acquired part of the Argenteuil estate in 1929 and built his summer residence there in 1930.
This vast estate was the residence of King Leopold III and his second family from 1961 to 2002, and became the Royal Domain of Argenteuil. After the death of the sovereign in 1983, his wife and their three children resided there until the death of the Princess of Réthy in June 2002.
In September 2004, the castle and its 136-hectare park became a private site, purchased by Jean-Marie Delwart, an entrepreneur with a passion for ethology.
In 1939, Baron Paul de Launoit built the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel on another part of the domain.
Not open to visitors
