The Sterckshof castle, in the Rivierenhof in Deurne, is again for sale. And they are ‘sales’. In 2014 you still had to cough up 5 million euros for the fairytale building, but today the starting price is a fraction of that: 500,000 euros.
If you scour Immoweb looking for a new home in Deurne with a garden, sufficient rooms and in a quiet, green environment, it is very likely that you will soon come across Sterckshof Castle. With a total area of 13,855 square meters, you will not find anything that comes close in the same price category.
Because, contrary to what you would expect from a castle, the starting price of 500,000 euros falls within what you would call an ‘affordable’ home in Antwerp.
But, there is a catch. The castle is what they call a non-residential building. It is intended for cultural, recreational or sporting activities. In addition, a lot of renovation work is required, although the Flemish Region and the province of Antwerp are offering the new owner a renovation premium of around 1.2 million euros.
The province dreams of an investor-entrepreneur who wants to start the renovation works with a subsidy of 1.2 million. — © Jan Van der Perre
Silver Museum
It was originally a fortified farm that was converted into a castle in the sixteenth century. The province acquired the domain in the 1920s and had it completely rebuilt according to historical sketches. Until 2014, the Silver Museum was located in the building. The province has been looking for a new purpose ever since.
The price has dropped over the years. In 2014, the province hoped to receive another 5 million euros for this. An unknown bidder offered 3 million euros two years later, but that offer was not accepted by the province.
In an attempt to find interested parties, the provincial government lowered the price to 4.25 million euros in 2017, but without results.
The castle must be given a sustainable economic purpose. — © Joris Herregods
Sustainable implementation
Together with the Flemish investment company PMV, the province had a repurposing study carried out. PMV is prepared to offer financing to buyers with a plan for a sustainable economic development of the property. “We dream of an investor-entrepreneur who wants to turn the listed castle into something beautiful,” says deputy Luk Lemmens. “It is our historical duty to make the Sterckshof a vibrant place that can add extra appeal to the provincial domain. We think a sale offers the best opportunity for this.”
The target price for the sale is now 500,000 euros. Bidding is possible until Friday, April 18, 2025.
