Ooidonk is already mentioned in 1230 : "Nicolas, chaplain of Hodunc". A fortress was first built on the site of the current castle, intended to defend the city of
Ghent and to fortify the river
Leie. This fortress was owned by Jean de Fosseux, lord of
Nevele. The castle was destroyed for the first time in 1491 by the people of Ghent, in revolt against
Maximilian I. In 1568,
Philippe II de Montmorency-Nivelle, Count of Hornes, Lord of Nevele and owner of the estate was beheaded, along with the
Count of Egmont, by the Spanish
Duke of Alba in Brussels. In 1579, during the
wars of religion, the castle, defenseless, was destroyed by the Ghent
Calvinists. The ruins and lands were later acquired by
Martin della Faille, a merchant from Antwerp. He rebuilt the castle in a
Renaissance style and transformed it into a place of residence in
Hispano-Flemish style. In 1864, the castle and lands were acquired by
Henri t' Kint de Rodenbeke who went on to become
President of the Senate and
Minister of State. He restored and transformed the castle. It is now the private property of Count Henry
t'Kint de Roodenbeke, son of the late Count Juan
t'Kint de Roodenbeke. In 1944, the castle was classified as a protected landmark. In 1980, other constructions around it were also classified, and in 1995, so was the rest of the estate. Ooidonk Castle is open to the public from April 1 to September 15, and the park (with its French garden) can be visited year round. ==See also==