1. The History
Located in Bevingen, the Chateau of Rochendaal was constructed in 1881 by lawyer Jean Henri Paul Ulens (who was ennobled in 1871) for himself and his cousin bride, Marie, who he married in 1850. The three-story residence built in a neoclassical style had white plastering and a four-storey turret. He went on to become the Mayor of Sint-Truden between 1878 and 1891, then sold the estate in 1904 to Paul Cartuyvels and his wife, Marie Seny, who remained resident there until his death in 1940.
The house was then seized by the invading Nazi forces in 1940 and it was assimilated into the newly built military base, or Fliegerdorf of the Nachtjagd, that was constructed close by. The site had previously had a grass runway prior to the Germans arrival and new Luftwaffe airfield featured 3 runways concrete runways and multiple barracks for the base’s the staff and pilots, from 404FG, 386BG and 305BG squadrons. The Castle was used as a resident for high-ranking German officers and for a time was the home for Otto Frieze, a famous German Luftwaffe night fighter pilot, known as the ‘Night Hunter’.
Copyright © Neils, Bruxelles
Once the Nazi’s were defeated the American’s initially occupied Chateau Rochendaal, but it then became a boarding house for Belgian Pilots, who were training there after the base was taken over by the Belgium Airforce. When the 9th Wing Training of Brustem closed in 1996, while the Airforce continued to train there, the castle stood abandoned and empty, occasionally occupied by squatters. The barracks were used at accomodation for asylum seekers from 1998 for a period of time. Then in 2012, it was announced that 300 homes would be built in the grounds and the chateau restored. These plans failed to materialise and five years later. Still owned by the military who patrolled the grounds, after a series of small fires on the site, on 13th, September 2017, a serious fire ripped through the castle leaving it an empty smoldering shell., The suspected arson attack occurred around 7pm and took fire services around 2 hours to get under control. Since then castle has sat there decaying along with the former airbase.
2. The Explore
Two sites for the price of one here! In the past, this was on people’s urbex map due to the Chateau. Now, since the fire in the Autumn of 2017, this is no longer the case as the castle is in such a poor way. There’s a few reports up on here, from as far back as 2015, including @The_Raw and his excellent report HERE.
Even back then, though, the place was in a sorry way, but a trip here was worth it if only to see the ceiling of the castle’s small chapel.
Prior to my visit, I knew this was the case, but I was also aware of the extensive site of the former German Luftwaffe base, which only got minimal attention in the past. On rocking up, it quickly became apparent that the place was a complete walk in. I started to explore the barrack blocks and then moved on the cafetière before heading over to the castle, once it had got a bit repetitive, as these places sometimes do. I just took externals of the chateau as it is a total wreck, but did venture into the larger outbuilding which served as a coach house. However, I now wished I’d looked at the northern part of the base and having seen pictures of the officers’ lodgings (Building No.23) next to the chateau. Revisit required!
3. The Pictures
Apologies but I can’t read Dutch!
Modern guard’s hut:
And pillbox:
First up is Block 12B:
Lots of decay:
Loved the wash room:
Empty room:
And more decay:
Up the stairs:
Even more decay:
On to the next block:
More of the same:
But the wash rooms are better condition:
Up the stairs again:
And back out again:
Block 16B is more of the same:
And more sinks!
Stairways:
And corridors:
Located in Bevingen, the Chateau of Rochendaal was constructed in 1881 by lawyer Jean Henri Paul Ulens (who was ennobled in 1871) for himself and his cousin bride, Marie, who he married in 1850. The three-story residence built in a neoclassical style had white plastering and a four-storey turret. He went on to become the Mayor of Sint-Truden between 1878 and 1891, then sold the estate in 1904 to Paul Cartuyvels and his wife, Marie Seny, who remained resident there until his death in 1940.
The house was then seized by the invading Nazi forces in 1940 and it was assimilated into the newly built military base, or Fliegerdorf of the Nachtjagd, that was constructed close by. The site had previously had a grass runway prior to the Germans arrival and new Luftwaffe airfield featured 3 runways concrete runways and multiple barracks for the base’s the staff and pilots, from 404FG, 386BG and 305BG squadrons. The Castle was used as a resident for high-ranking German officers and for a time was the home for Otto Frieze, a famous German Luftwaffe night fighter pilot, known as the ‘Night Hunter’.
Copyright © Neils, Bruxelles
Once the Nazi’s were defeated the American’s initially occupied Chateau Rochendaal, but it then became a boarding house for Belgian Pilots, who were training there after the base was taken over by the Belgium Airforce. When the 9th Wing Training of Brustem closed in 1996, while the Airforce continued to train there, the castle stood abandoned and empty, occasionally occupied by squatters. The barracks were used at accomodation for asylum seekers from 1998 for a period of time. Then in 2012, it was announced that 300 homes would be built in the grounds and the chateau restored. These plans failed to materialise and five years later. Still owned by the military who patrolled the grounds, after a series of small fires on the site, on 13th, September 2017, a serious fire ripped through the castle leaving it an empty smoldering shell., The suspected arson attack occurred around 7pm and took fire services around 2 hours to get under control. Since then castle has sat there decaying along with the former airbase.
2. The Explore
Two sites for the price of one here! In the past, this was on people’s urbex map due to the Chateau. Now, since the fire in the Autumn of 2017, this is no longer the case as the castle is in such a poor way. There’s a few reports up on here, from as far back as 2015, including @The_Raw and his excellent report HERE.
Even back then, though, the place was in a sorry way, but a trip here was worth it if only to see the ceiling of the castle’s small chapel.
Prior to my visit, I knew this was the case, but I was also aware of the extensive site of the former German Luftwaffe base, which only got minimal attention in the past. On rocking up, it quickly became apparent that the place was a complete walk in. I started to explore the barrack blocks and then moved on the cafetière before heading over to the castle, once it had got a bit repetitive, as these places sometimes do. I just took externals of the chateau as it is a total wreck, but did venture into the larger outbuilding which served as a coach house. However, I now wished I’d looked at the northern part of the base and having seen pictures of the officers’ lodgings (Building No.23) next to the chateau. Revisit required!
3. The Pictures
Apologies but I can’t read Dutch!
Modern guard’s hut:
And pillbox:
First up is Block 12B:
Lots of decay:
Loved the wash room:
Empty room:
And more decay:
Up the stairs:
Even more decay:
On to the next block:
More of the same:
But the wash rooms are better condition:
Up the stairs again:
And back out again:
Block 16B is more of the same:
And more sinks!
Stairways:
And corridors:
