The magnificent architectural pearl of Breda, the ancient Bouvigne Castle, stands not far from the city centre. It has such a long history that the exact date of establishment is not designated even in archives. What was located here before the castle is also unknown. It was first mentioned in 1554 as a big, stone mansion surrounded by water.

Nobody knows if it was true. But judging by a variety of materials that constitute the castle today, assumedly, it was altered many times.

We know for sure that one of the first castle’s owners was the van Brecht family. This surname is indicated on the survived tiling presumably produced at the end of the 15th century. The family used the estate as a summer residence and lived in the city in winter.

In 1611, they sold the castle to Jean Baptiste Keeremans. It took him five years to rebuild the estate to his taste, but when the work was finished, he sold the castle to the Prince of Orange for some reason. This family also lived there rarely, placing only their servants here. The castle was hardly looked after and quickly fell into decline. It was even meant to be demolished because restoration work cost too much. But local people were against this decision: they loved such adornment of the area.

In 1775, William V sold the castle to the owner of coffee plantations George Ruysch, engaged in the old building restoration.

Today Bouvigne Castle is owned by the state. The territory includes beautiful houses and gardens. The first gardens, English and French, appeared here in the 1920s, and a German one did so in 1930.